Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

For thousands of years, the great race of Oban was used to pick the next avatar to watch over and protect the life of the cosmos. However, one avatar refused his reign to end thus resulting in banishment. He planned and waited until he found a suitable victim.

Eva Wei, a fifteen-year-old girl of the Earth Colony, joined the race of Oban to be granted a supposed wish in hopes of bringing her mother back. Aided with her father, Don Wei, and Jordan Wilde, she overcame the races and her alien rivals. Her confrontation with Canaletto was treacherous. Relieving the pain that split her family apart and learning the truth. Jordan was the true hero at that point, destroying Canaletto and taking the reign of Avatar. The universe was saved and life continued.

Two years have passed since the race. Eva enjoyed her life with her father. Her rise to power. Now, the universe needs her again. This time, she wouldn’t have to do it alone.

Chapter Text

“AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!” A scream rang out of Sunny Moon Complex. The early morning sun reached its peak. Birds flew everywhere from the sheer fright. Lydia was making a frantic attempt to get ready for work as she ran around the apartment. She got on her plaid skirt and white blouse.She adjusted her round glasses in front of the mirror. “I’m going to be late! I’m going to be late!” Her hands tried to tie braids in her dark hair while trying to hide the silver grey that peeks out as she allowed the strap of her purse to slide down her arm to touch her shoulder. Her feet slipped on her black flats. She grabbed a piece of bread and went out the door. Lydia went back briefly to lock it.

Lydia managed to jump over her landlady, Mrs. Hinera, since she didn’t have a whole lot of time to talk. She was nearly down the stairs when she slipped on a puddle from last night’s rainstorm. The twenty-year-old tumbled down and landed on her butt. She sighed. “At least I didn’t land on my head and finished what I was eating.” Lydia gripped her stomach. “I just hope it doesn’t give me trouble.” She got up again as she continued to run. Her legs stung from the impact of the fall. Down the four blocks of her city, Speedtail, Lydia kept found herself able to move faster and faster with each step.

Before long, she arrived at her workplace. Only by five minutes. A facility that translated books, letters, and sometimes media in order for one country to understand the language of another. Her body heated up and she settled into her small cubby. She took a swig of water before she got through her work. Lydia’s computer was a simple one from earlier times before the space expansion. Her grey eyes flipping to and from the screen as each word was typed away. Her nimble fingers made the keys clatter.

Pages and pages were piling. Each one organized for the latest modification. Around 10 A.M., Lydia nearly jumped out of her seat when she heard her boss shouting. “Lydia!! In my office! Now!!” Mr. Cam always went after Lydia constantly. His shout was later followed by a few snickers from her coworkers.

“Coming sir.” Lydia gathered all her things that were due today. She straightened the papers. Just as she walked out, she tripped by a stray leg from one of her coworkers. Her paper scattered. They laughed. She only laughed back. “Sorry. Got too much stuff to do. Just glad no one is hurt.” She sighed. “I gotta stop falling for that,” She mumbled. Lydia got up and continued to the office. Lydia was used to that sort of treatment all her life. Since she was in preschool.

Once she got there, Lydia was met with a heavy cologne. She tried her best not to crinkle her nose but she hated that smell with a passion. It would sometimes remind her of her time in a dark room surrounded by laughing men. She took a deep breath. Her arms vibrated. Lydia walked slowly toward her boss. It was a standard executive office. Firm leather chairs, an oaken desk. It somehow gave a cold air that was produced by a man with short, dark hair. Black eyes focused on her. A mouth mashed into a hard line. Lydia swallowed hard. “You wanted to see me, sir?”

Mr. Cam took a deep breath. “Lydia, did you finish the translations for our orders in Africa? As well as that essay we need for Russia?”

Lydia nodded. “Just finished for the Russians. As for the textbooks, I’m halfway done. Bear in mind that each country in Africa has its own language from each tribe. Zulu, Nigerian...Just a few more hours and I should have it ready.”

Mr. Cam lifted a piece of paper. It was written in a language that wasn’t from Earth. “Would you like to explain what this is?”

Lydia laughed nervously. She fiddled with her glasses. “Just a small side project. It’s Nourasion. There was some footage from a news article about one member of military that came across it when they were coming down from space.Their symbols are really-”

“I don’t care!” The muscle under his skin rippled. It should be said that he was tough despite being a forty-year-old man. “That’s the fourth time this week you’ve been doing these silly projects! They are making your productions slower than normal!”

“But sir, I’ve checked my work and I turn them in on time.”

“These stupid language studies you pull are extremely distracting. The last thing we need is to speak some weird nonsense. Especially from the enemy. You’re fired!”

Lydia felt her heart stop. Everything else just flickered. She did all she could not to cry. Her voice went dead. She simply bowed, handed the papers and walked back to her desk. She pulled out her box and began to gather all her things. Fortunately, she didn’t have too much she needed to clean out. The laughter and smirks plagued her as she walked out of the building. It felt like hours until she finally reached her apartment. Lydia shut the door. Taking a moment to block out the outside world. Tears welled in her eyes. She leaned against the door and slid down to the floor.

“I didn’t mean to be careless.” Lydia spoke. She had only done it on her small window of freetime and at home. Work had been her priority. Lydia looked up at the greasy ceiling. Grey wallpaper matching her mood. She curled up into a ball. “What am I going to tell mom?”

----------(a few hours later, Neyino Hospital)------------------------------------------------------------

Lydia found each step agonizing as she went through the bright white halls of the hospital. She didn’t want to tell her mother the bad news. She didn’t want to let the warm woman who raised her see a disheartened shriveled form. Lydia took a deep breath. She wiped her tears. It didn’t take long to find room 304. Her head poked through the doorway to see her mother in the same state she would always see her.

A woman in her 50’s sat up in her bed. Long black hair with gray highlights spread out. She had glasses like Lydia’s and sat on her face gently. Her brown eyes staring off into a distant memory. However, they also had a bit of a dull appearance that told of an invisible struggle. Skin was white as snow. Her frame was frail and weak, yet it was enough to hold her up. She, Umbra Lin, turned her head to face Lydia. A warm smile on her face. “Hello Lydia. What happened at work?”

Lydia froze. Her braids started to hurt her head. “W-what are you talking about? Everything’s fine.” She began to fiddle with her glasses.

Umbra sighed. “I saw you arriving at the hospital this morning looking down. You were walking slower.” She pointed at Lydia’s glasses. “Plus you mess with your glasses when you’re scared to talk about something.”

Lydia sighed. Her mother was a smart woman. She gulped hard. “I...I was fired today. I just didn’t want to tell you in the state that you’re in.”

Umbra looked at her. “What were you fired for?”

“I was studying an alien language in my freetime. Just some Nourasian writing that someone found in space.” She raised her arms up in defense. “I made sure to balance out my work, I swear!” Lydia lowered her head as she gazed at the floor.

Umbra raised her arms. A few IV tubes attached to her arms. Her smile was weary and sad. “Come here.”
Lydia obeyed. She grabbed the nearest chair and sat down. Finally overwhelmed with sadness, Lydia collapsed into her mother's lap crying. “I’m so sorry! I try so hard! I- I just wish I was normal…”

Umbra sighed. She stroked the braided hair. “Don’t blame yourself, my little vixen. I know you’ve loved aliens from the moment you met Mercu. You just want to understand others better.” Her face turned into a hard frown. “I’m just sorry that they treated you like that. I really do wish there was someone out there who would appreciate you. You know I need to show you something.” She pulled a box that rumbled as she moved it.

Lydia sat up and began to blow her nose. She wiped her glasses since they got foggy from her tears. When she placed them back on, she gasped. “Is that…”

Umbra nodded. “I kept them with me just in case you ever came across this problem.” She looked down at it briefly. “Just carry these with you. Also, I think you’re old enough to carve them. Do you remember what Mercu said to you?”

Lydia nodded. “Yeah. Just carve whatever comes to my mind and hold it there.” She beamed at that memory. The silver fur that wrapped her in safety. Warm blue eyes. A smile confident of a future. Suddenly, a flash of black fur and teeth made her shake. Lydia shook her head. “Sorry. I just had a flashback to…”

Umbra raised a hand to stop her. She took Lydia’s hand. “Be brave Lydia. You have a special heart. I’m sure someone will appreciate your skills.” Her whole body started to shake. Non-stop coughing broke out. She collapsed onto the bed. Her abdomen rises and falls with effort. Sweat broke out on her forehead. The heartrate monitor beeped wildly.

“Mom!” Lydia screamed. She ran out the door. “Help! Someone help! Please! My mom’s in trouble.”

It didn’t take long for the doctors and nurses to come to their room. One nurse pulled Lydia away. A drone of shouts flooded the room. They all rolled Umbra out of the room. Almost running at full speed. The nurse holding Lydia lost her grip as Lydia broke free and ran after her mother.

“Mom!” Lydia slipped on the floor. Her face made a hard impact on the hard tiles. She looked up. Her leg stung. She tried to reach out. “MOOOOOM!”
---------------(SunMoon Complex, Evening)--------------------------------------------------------------
Lydia’s voice was raw. She rubbed her throat as she finally reached the entrance of the apartments. Her swollen, red eyes could barely make out the lights that are still on in the cramped rooms. The news of her mother in critical condition with an uncertain outcome destroyed her. She had to be sedated in order to calm down. It lasted for four hours until she was giving permission to go home.

Just as she reached the floor of her apartment, Lydia stared in horror. Her Landlady was standing outside with a few boxes packed. She ran over to her. “Miss Alben! What are you doing?!”

Miss Alben, a woman half her size, turned to look at her. Her dark eyes cold and judgmental. “You’re behind your rent! For four whole months!” She raised her cane at Lydia and smacked her with it. “It’s time for you to leave!”

“B-but I paid for the rent this week!”

“You forgot to include the payments of the pots you broke when you ran.”

“The recent ones...I’m sorry about that. I was trying hard-” She was hit again.

“No more talk! Leave!”

Lydia felt numb. Like a robot, she lifted her boxes up and simply walked on. She kept walking and walking until she found herself in the local park. Not many dangers happen there at night. Her grey eyes stared above the glasses. The stars and moon looked peaceful in the dark blue sky. A stray tear ran down her cheek. Soon followed by another. Lydia lowered her head. Her heart ached. Anger, sorrow and frustration rippling through her body. She took in a deep breath. “AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!” Her screams and howls could be barely heard by anyone. At that point, there was nothing to care about. Her life was over.

Chapter Text

Eva Wei looked up at the starry night sky. Her smile wide. She leaned against the railing of their home porch. It’s been two years since she went to Oban and raced with Jordan. Though she still misses him, she’s glad of all the things he did for her.Now, she just graduated high school and is ready for a new life as a racer. Even her dad agreed to have her do a race the month after their small vacation. Her eyes closed as she enjoyed the breeze that gave the smell of fresh spring. A door opening made her turn her head. She grinned at her dad. “Penny for your thoughts?”

Don Wei laughed. His dark eyes filled with life. He was a far cry from the broken man he was before. Still gruff with his workers, but no longer pushes his daughter away. The two have been able to make up for the lost time they had for the past ten years after Maya’s death. Every once in a while, they talked about the race and how it brought them together despite all the terrible things that happened. “Just thought to join you through the starry night.” He leaned against the railing. “Two whole years since that day…” He laughed. “Hard to imagine. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would travel to alien planets and try to save the human race...only for you to finally come back into my life again.”

Eva grinned. “Yeah well...It wasn’t easy. I had to win you back somehow. You were a piece of work.”

“So were you.”

The two laughed heartily. Suddenly, a limo drove to the front of the house. The car door opened to reveal a stern president of the Earth Colonies stand before them. His eyes focused on Eva. “Don Wei. Eva Wei. It’s been awhile.”

Eva and Don stiffened. They both despised the president after what had happened at the race. Though all of humanity was at stake, he manipulated Eva to do his work and not tell her what was going on. He practically gambled with her life. As much as they disliked him, they both knew it had to be this important. “Yes…” Don Wei said, trying his best not to growl. “Quite. What brings you here on this fine evening?”

The president cleared his throat. “You two have to come with me to my office, your expertise is needed. We’re also having a linguist being picked up as we speak. Come with me and I’ll give you more details.”

Eva took a deep breath. Letting her anger melt away, but her voice had a warning tone to it. “Alright, but no secrets. Tell us everything you know.”

The president was silent for a moment. His face holding the same expression. Then, he nodded. He vanished back into the limousine. It didn’t take long for both Don and Eva to join him. As the doors, closed the van drove away from the Wei house and into a new adventure.
--------------------------(Lydia)------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lydia laid on the park bench half asleep. She just couldn’t feel anything. No warmth. No cold. She just wanted to be away from everything. The pain. Torture. People laughing behind her back. Yelling at how useless her work was. Ridicule. The agony that her mother might never return to her. It wouldn’t have mattered, Lydia thought bitterly. There’s no home to return to. Her eyes opened to the twilight sky beneath the trees. The smell of fresh grass gave her nothing.

She sat upright. Her hand fiddled one of the bags to find a small knife that Mercu gave her when they first met. It was made for carving stone which made it sharp. However, if she placed it on her wrist...Suddenly, a random shouting startled her. The box that was beside her fell onto the ground, spilling out the content in it.

Lydia knelt down to the ground and scooped up the materials. Three glittering stones. One green as the grass in front of her. Blue as the ocean. The last one a slight mix of pink and purple. The green stone cradled in her hand. She sighed. “I guess I can start carving shapes before I leave. I promised Mercu that.” She settled herself back on the bench. Her mind instantly took an image of the green gem in a form. A Red River Hog. Tusks jutted out of its mouth. A fierce gaze coming from pale green eyes. Stout legs positioned for combat. Just as she was finishing the last touches, an “Ahem” brought her back to reality. She looked up to see a group of people standing in front of her. Government officials in black suits. “Um...Can I help you?”

“Are you Lydia Lin?” One of the men asked.

Lydia nodded. “U-um...Yes. What do you need me for?”

“The President of the Earth Coalition wishes to speak to you. We had many references from your boss and your old landlady that you are good with languages. Especially aliens.”

Lydia looked down. “The alien language was just a side project. They just have dialects that branch out from the languages on Earth.” She blushed when she saw the Nurasian writing. “It was a simple love letter from one of the warriors that helped the Crogs-”

“Come with us.”

Lydia was silent for a moment. This was too much for her. She lost her home, money and possibly her mother. Now the president wanted her. She looked down at her hand. The cool green stone cradled in her palm. The tusked pig is almost complete. Whatever the president needed from her, it won’t be long. After all, she thought bitterly. I don’t have a home to go to.My life is meaningless to lose Lydia took a deep breath. “I’ll do it. But let me take my stuff with me. It isn’t much but I don’t want to leave what I have left of my life.”
---------------------------(A few hours later, close to midnight)----------------------------------------
Lydia had finished the last touches to her hog and fell asleep during the rest of the car ride. She woke up a little later to help the men move her things into a storage locker and wait in the council room. Lydia fell back asleep once she settled down. Sometime later, she awoke to the sound of a door opening. She got up slowly. Her eyes half-opened and bleary.

In the doorway was the president. He looked stern and tired as if he was the one driving all night. Next to him was a man in his 50’s. Black and white hair representing the race track. Then, a young girl at the age of seventeen. Red with hints of black underneath. Her brown eyes focused on her.

Lydia immediately got up from her seat. “Mr. President!” Her chair fell backward from her fast movement. She bowed. “Forgive my rude behavior, I had a hard day.” She blushed. She absent-mindedly fiddled with her glasses.“Though...yours must’ve been harder I’m sure.” Then, her mind instantly snapped awake when she recognized Eva and Don. “I’ve seen you two before! On the Racing Weekly Magazines! You’re both considered-”

The President raised a hand. “Please sit down everyone. I have an important announcement.” He walked over to the head of the table. He watched as everyone did just as he commanded. At that moment, the lights went off. He pulled out a remote for the projector. The first image pulled out a map of where each colony resides.“As off late, some earth colonies have been disappearing.” He flipped to the next one. This one presented a strange mark on an abandoned house. It was a strong resemblance to a red fox with multiple tails. It looked extremely unfriendly. “A few survivors have recalled seeing aliens that maybe Crogs developing a new strategy of conquest.” He turned to the others. “I want Eva and Lydia to go in space and learn more about the situation.”

Lydia sat up straight on this. “What?! I-I-I mean it would be a huge honor to work with the daughter of Maya Wei and Don Wei.” She turned to look at Eva. “I’m deeply sorry for your loss by the way.”

Eva gave her a soft smile. What she saw in those tired eyes was a girl who’s going through so much pain. “It’s ok. We’re doing a little better now.” She turned to glare at the President. “Or at least, that’s what was happening earlier.”

The President sighed. “I know that you and Don are still mad at me. However, this could hit our home planet if we don’t address this now. A lot of lives will be at stake.” He turned his gaze to Lydia. “So far, I’ve asked many linguists for help. However, none of them specialized in any languages except here on earth. You might be the only one who may be more aware of alien language and better understanding of their culture better than most. Please… Help us.”

Lydia sat there for a moment. This was an opportunity of a lifetime for her. She was overlooked by everyone. No matter how hard she practiced. No matter how good her grades were. She was worth nothing to her peers. Now...her mother is gone. Even if she dies out in space, at least she would have a nice time before the end. Lydia got up from her chair. “I’ll do it.”

Eva stared at her in surprise. “Are you sure?”

Lydia fixed her glasses. “I don’t have anything else to lose. This is my only chance to be in space. I’ve always wanted that my whole life. I’ll do my best to see what these attackers are up to.”

Eva wasn’t sure about Lydia’s answer. Something about it felt off. As if the young woman has nothing left to lose. However, she thought about it. If there really are attackers and the Crogs are somehow involved, I shouldn’t miss this chance. Her memories went back to her time on Aiwas and Oban. She’s been through peril time and again. Most of them were with Aikka and Jordan, but things are different now. She got up. “I’ll do it too, sir.”
Don stared in shock. “Eva!”

Eva gave a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, dad. It’s not something I’ve dealt with before. Besides, I won’t be completely alone and protocol will be diplomatic, right? Nothing too dangerous.”

The President sighed. “It will be diplomatic, but I’ll give you permission to use whatever means you have to protect us.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I can’t predict much but you two might be our only hope for Earth’s future.” He let out a yawn. A glance of his watch. The lights soon came back on. He got up from his spot. “I’ll give you further details in the morning. You can rest in the guest rooms tonight.” With that, he left.

Don Wei sighed. He placed his hand on his head. “After all this time, there’s another reason to get you tossed into another problem.”

Eva placed a hand on her father’s. “Don’t worry, dad. Canaletto won’t hurt me now. Also, I’m not alone. I’m sure the president will set up a crew for us soon enough.” She smiled. “You can count on me!”

Don Wei smiled back. Tears welling in his eyes. The two stood there for a while. Feeling relief and happiness after a tense moment. Something about this scene only squeezed Lydia’s heart as tears fell out of her eyes.

Chapter Text

Lydia was so exhausted. Her eyelids refused to move. An alarm clock ringing its bells profusely. She groaned. “It’s too early...Mom...I don’t want to go to school today.” Her thin hand touched the clock and managed to actually stop it for once. Normally it would land on the floor while ringing nonstop. She soon found herself in a strange dream. She was walking into a forest. One she’s never seen before but looks very familiar. As she walked she saw a pair of glowing yellow eyes staring at her. They weren’t angry, just curious. Before she could say anything, a pair of jaws came to grab her.

She bolted upright. A gasp escaped her throat. What was that?! She thought. I didn’t have that dream since I was in the fourth grade! She got up, put on her glasses and looked at the clock. Surprisingly, she was up earlier than normal. She looked around to see that her room was different. A bit cleaner with little decoration. Lydia sighed as she began to remember. “That’s right,” she said out loud. “I...have no home now. I agreed to go into space with Eva…” Her eyes began to sting with tears. She wiped them away immediately. “Ok. No time to cry now. Make a good impression for the voyage.”

She went over to one of the boxes that was stashed in one corner of the room. Lydia knelt down and opened it. Thankfully, her landlady didn’t toss out all of her clothes. She soon picked a white t-shirt with lace sleeves and an ivory skirt matched her white flats. She set up her braids as best as she could since her room didn’t have much of a mirror. Lydia found herself shaking as she opened the door. As the knob turned, her stomach bubbled. She took a deep breath. Her head popped out of the doorway.

The hallway felt a bit cold and strict. The Ivory walls did little to comfort her. She hugged herself. Her fingernails dug into her skin. Her legs stiff as she tried to walk around. She had a hard time breathing. Her mind went into static. She looked around. There were a few soldiers and agents around but nothing else. M-maybe if I go into the kitchen, Lydia thought. I might be calmer with food.

Lydia opened the kitchen but there were more people than she expected. At least 10 working on breakfast for the staff and guests. She gave a nervous smile. Her hand made a weak attempt to wave. She quickly made for the counter and nearly knocked over some orange juice. “Sorry...Just couldn’t sleep this morning.” She laughed her usual laugh. She gulped. Gahhh! She mentally screamed. I suck at this! She sat down at the nearest chair. Fiddling with her fingers.

Suddenly, a plate that had cheese omelette with fried potatoes. The overbearing smell of herbs tingled with her nose. A large stack of pancakes soon meet up with it. Lydia looked up to see a smiling young woman before her. It was none other than Eva. Lydia blushed. “Miss Wei….”

Eva grinned. “Come on. Call me Eva.” Then, it switched to a frown. “Hey...are you ok?”

Lydia gave a crooked smile. “Just had a nightmare. I suffer from them. Most of them being about Crogs.” She shivered. Most of it was true. Half of her nightmares were about the Crogs coming to her apartment and killing her and her mother. She shivered. She looked up at Eva. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be talking about my troubles since you seem to be excited about going into space.”

“Don’t be.” Eva said. “Everyone has problems. I know opening up isn’t easy, but...maybe you could at least tell me why you want to go to space.”

Lydia was silent for a moment. She ate her pancakes quietly. Her tongue took in the warm texture. Then, she began to eat her omelette. Every amount of food gives her comfort. “Wow! This tastes great.” Then, she looked at Eva in the face. “To be honest...There’s no home for me here anymore…” She took a deep breath as she continued to explain further. “I lost my job because I was translating Nurasian as a side project. Then, my mom got sick and I got kicked out of the apartment because I wasn’t able to pay some of the damages. So...Why not go into space? I have nothing left to lose after all.” Tears soon came to her eyes. Suddenly, she felt Eva hugging her. For a long time, Lydia allowed herself to cry for the remainder of breakfast.
---------------------------(A few hours later)----------------------------------------------------------
After a much needed cry, Lydia found herself enjoying her breakfast. Eva and Lydia talked about what they might see in space. Lydia even tried to do a few alien languages which made a few of the kitchen staff giggle. It didn’t even feel weird when Don Wei joined in the conversation. Despite their fame, Lydia found them to be great people. They’re both kind in their own way. Don Wei may be pushy but he means well. Eva is tough, but she has a good heart.

As the group was escorted to a rocket bay area, along with the president, Lydia found herself a little at ease. It was still a big mission, but with a journal and a camera, she was going to document all the alien cultures. She even did a side glance at her shoulder bag to make sure that the box contained those stones and the carving knife. Maybe be able to find Mercu’s planet, she thought. She stepped out of the limo with great ease.

The hanger before them had a large ship. A pure white metal with the earth colony symbol painted on it. Sounds of computers, sparks and murmurs rang through the air. Scientists busily looked over data charts and calculations. Army men marching from one spot to another. Among the group was a strange alien. He had elf-like ears and red-ish brown skin. His blue eyes focused on the human scientist that he was with. He wore a ponytail that gave him a samurai look. A white space suit with blue streaks gave him a regal look.

Eva’s eyes brightened at the sight of the alien. She ran over to him waving. “Akka!”
Akka looked up from his work to see a very familiar human. He smiled. “Eva!” Before he could react, he was soon met with a hug. He laughed as he hugged her back. “It’s good to see you again.”

Eva looked up at him. “Good to see you! What are you doing here?”

Akka frowned. “There’s been strange occurrences happening around our planet, mostly children vanishing. Also...the Crogs want to find proof that they weren’t involved with Earth.”

Eva huffed. “Figures they’d be involved.”

Lydia only looked on, confused. Do they know each other? She thought. Something about seeing Eva getting along with Akka made her heart happy. Yet...at the same time sink. Could she get along with the other aliens? What if they don’t like her? What if she offends someone? Her mind whirled with anxiety. Suddenly, she heard Eva talking to her. Lydia stared at Eva. Her cheeks turned red. “Oh! Sorry!Just lost in thought S-so you two know each other?”

Eva blushed back. “Yeah…” She rubbed the back of her neck. “It’s kinda hard to explain.”

A man in his early sixties walked over to them. He wore glasses just like Lydia’s. His slate-gray hair down in a simple mop. His slacks and lab coat gave him an air of a scientist that is a little laid back. “Alright. Explanations will be played later. Right now, you girls are best to get changed into your suits.” He paused for a moment as realization hit him. He slapped himself. “Of course. Forgive me for being rude. My name’s Dr. Nongon. I just made these suits to help you adapt to whatever planet you land on. Just make sure you don’t break it.”

Eva looked at him. She gave him his hand and shook it. “Nice to meet you. I’m Eva Wei.” She gestured behind Lydia. “This is my partner, Lydia.”

Lydia’s heart skipped a beat. She’s never been called that before. She mentally shook herself. Be calm, she thought. Don’t panic... Just move slowly. She walked with a stiff gait as if she was turned into a tin soldier. Her hand raised awkwardly. “L-Lydia Lin at your service!” It was taken in a strong handshake. She looked at his eyes. There was a strange spark in them. Something unsettling. Was it my imagination or did he recognize me from somewhere? A slight shiver went through her spine.

“Well. It’s a pleasure to meet you Lydia.” Dr. Nongon smiled. “The president told me you’re quite the translator.”

Akka nodded. “Yes. I understand that you were translating a love letter?”

Lydia blushed. “Uhhhh….Yes…” She fiddled with her thumbs. “Maybe we should discuss this more after the launch.” She jumped at the sound of something hissing and rattling. “What was that?”

Akka sighed. “Oh dear. G’dar will get too restless if we don’t take off soon.”

“Whelp!” The Dr. said. “Time to launch. To the changing room, ladies!”

Lydia jumped. She briskly walked to her dressing room, her hand clutching the strap of her bag. She bumped into a wall. “...Ow….” Eva grabbed her arm to guide to the dressing room. In a matter of minutes, the two girls were soon dressed in their space suits. The spacesuits were white but Eva’s was pink while Lydia’s was gray. Lydia blushed as she stared at herself in the mirror. Here goes nothing, She thought. Once out, Eva said goodbye to her father. Something about seeing the duo act like this made Lydia’s heart hurt.

The two girls soon joined Akka outside the ship. The three space wayfarers walked toward the door of the ship. A silence hung in the air. Each step felt like forever as if all of time had slowed. Lydia tried to ignore the stares that followed her across the catwalk. Once they arrived at the door, the trio took their seats. Lydia let out a sigh. Her whole vibrating. She adjusted her glasses.

Down below, the techs were typing away commands for the ship. Machines whirled. The engine of the rocket roared to life. A faint glow of fire underneath. In a small room, Don Wei and the president watched the monitors. Don Wei gripped the rails hard. The president merely watched the process. Behind them, Dr. Nongon held his board with a simple smile on his face as if he was proud of the project he created.

“Engines: Check.”

“Fuel lines are in stable condition.”

“The sky is clear.”

“Activate launch sequence.” Dr. Nongon commanded.

Don Wei looked at the president. “Mr. President...Are you sure this is wise?”

The president looked at him. “Your daughter has more experience in space than most of our men. As for Lydia, she seems to be the only one who’s willing to go. Part of the reason we took her is because the other Linguists that we asked turn the offer down out of fear. These two are the bravest souls that we can afford right now. We can’t afford further panic and distrust with our neighbors.”

Don Wei’s face soured. Says the man who wanted to annihilate the Crogs and nearly got everyone killed, he thought. He looked back at the screen. The countdown scrolled along the screen.

5...4...3...2...1...The rocket roared to life. The metal arms and pillars moved away as the rocket went straight into the air. A cloud of smoke spreading out like a flower. In a matter of minutes, the rocket went higher and higher into the sky until it finally vanished into the sky. Everyone clapped. Cheers rang throughout the building. The launch was a success...but the mission was ready to begin.
--------(A few minutes later)----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lydia took a few deep breaths. Let her heart calm down. Once Eva told her that it was ok to move. Lydia unbuckled herself. She pulled out the statue she was working on. Her hands immediately went to work on the finishing touches. As the eyes were finally carved, Lydia failed to notice Akka and Eva staring at her.

“What are you doing, Lydia?” Eva asked.

Lydia nearly dropped her stone and knife. She rightened herself. Her knife was immediately tucked back into her bag. She blushed. “J-j-just carving. It was something I thought to do while we’re traveling.”

Eva knelt closer. “Oh cool! It’s a wild boar!”

“Actually, it’s a Red River Hog.”

Akka looked at her curiously. He cocked a brow at her. During his short time on Earth, he never imagined he would get that many surprises. “I didn’t know you could carve. Where did you get those stones?”

Lydia looked at the stone fondly. Her mind draws back an old memory. “I know this is hard to believe but I actually met an...interstellar being before.” She blushed at the word interstellar being. “I was...kidnapped and tried to get away-”

“Wait,” Eva interrupted her. “Kidnapped?”

Before the conversation could go any further, a loud boom resounded in the ship. An alarm rang throughout the ship. Suddenly, the monitor brought up one image of the ship’s interior. The other of what seemed to be a space current.

Eva growled. “You’ve got to be kidding me! We’ve only been in space for ten minutes and already there’s trouble.” She strapped her seatbelt back on. She grabbed a hold of the controls. “Hang on! We’ve got to deal with the current before-Gah!” Another explosion caused everything to go off-kilter. The ship began to spin. An asteroid knocking them out of their intended path. Everyone screamed as they continued to be tossed into the unknown.

Chapter Text

Lydia woke up slowly. The sound of metal creaked around her. Slowly, she looked around to see what was going on. On her right, Eva was unconscious with her goggles ready to fall off her head. On her left, Akka was struggling to break free of his seatbelt. The young prince with a cut on his forehead. Lydia saw cracked monitors in front. She felt for her seatbelt. Thankfully, it wasn’t broken. Lydia got her seatbelt off. Only to realize that she and the others were upside down. She landed on what seemed to be a hard stone floor. “I’m ok,” She whispered.

Akka stopped struggling to look down at her. “Lydia?” He blinked for a moment. His eyes focused. “Lydia! Are you alright?!”

Lydia got up, her body throbbing. “I’m ok. Just simply fell.” She looked around. A small green glint showed where her pig statue laid. She crawled over to it and heaved a sigh of relief. She tried to get up. Then stopped as the ship began to creak. “Uh oh...Akka...I think we better get out of here.” She inched up to Akka. Once she found her knife, along with her bag of items she needed for the mission, she got a hold of his strap and began to saw. Little by little, the strap snapped.

Akka landed gracefully. He immediately helped Lydia get Eva free. They set her down on the stone floor. Thankfully, she woke up. Akka smiled. Then, a cry was heard. “G’dar! I must attend to him! Otherwise he’ll tip the ship!” He ran as fast as he could. The ship barely moved under his weight.

Lydia propped Eva up. “How’s your head?”

Eva rubbed her head. “Not the first time I’ve been through a crash.” The two stiffened as a creak resounded in the halls. “Let’s get outside.” She fiddled with the suit until she found the button she was looking for. Her finger soon landed on a small octagon. A helmet soon formed her head.

Lydia followed suit. She and Eva crawled out of the hull of the ship. As they stood up, Lydia immediately took in her surroundings. The area was dark and dismal. Barely any light was seen on the planet. A few floating stalactites hovered in the air. She shivered under the gloomy atmosphere. Her glasses felt crooked but she could risk being exposed to toxic air.

“Where are we?” Eva asked. A heavy buzz sounded behind the wreck. They turned to see Akka standing on top of a large white beetle with hints of blue along its body. Just as it landed beside them, the ship rattled, creaked. Suddenly, the rock began to crumble underneath them. Eva grabbed Akka’s extended hand and Lydia’s.

The two girls were soon on the beetle’s back just as the ship fell into darkness. Lydia gulped. She looked down into the chasm. “G-g-good thing that most of the stuff we needed is with me.” She gave a nervous laugh.

Eva turned her attention to some movement that was found in the darkness. A few glints of gold below them. She touched the side of the helmet which provided a zoom in function. The image closed in until the shapes were now recognizable. She stiffened. “Guys...We have a problem.”

Akka looked at Eva. “What is it, Molly?”

“There’s a bunch of Crogs below us.”

Lydia gawked at her. “What?!” She pressed the function on her helmet. Her face twisted in horror as she saw the same behemoths that Eva saw. Her whole body trembled as a realization came to her. “Oh no...Don’t tell me… We’re on…”

“Kraam…” Akka stated grimly. “The home planet of the Crogs.”

Lydia froze. “C-c-c-c-c-c-c-” Her brain was total mush. The one alien race she wanted to avoid is now here. Worst of all…

“There’s no place to hide.” Eva said. “Now that they know a ship crashed here, they’re going to hunt us down to find out where we are.”

Akka thought for a moment. “It’s true. Since the Nourasians have recently broke off the alliance with the Crogs, negotiations wouldn’t be of much help.” He steered G’dar away. Then, the insect flew toward an outcropping of rocks. “For now, let’s go over there so we can ‘hide’ while we still can.” Once they landed, Akka observed his arrows to make sure they worked.

Lydia began pacing. Her feet took five steps before she spun around. Her fingers clenched around the green stone. She kept doing for what felt like an eternity. Her heart drowned out the conversation that Eva might’ve been having with Akka. That’s the last thing she needed right now. Dealing with the worst race of aliens in all the galaxy! Her pace went faster and faster until she was stopped by Eva.

Eva looked in Lydia’s frightened eyes. She sighed. “Lydia...I know you’ve been through a lot but panicking isn’t going to help us. Right now, our only course of action is to go to the Crog Palace to grab a Crog ship.”

Lydia gulped. “Wouldn’t it be better to fix the ship?”

Akka grimly shook his head. “We don’t have a proper mechanic with us. Apparently, they didn’t have time to find one.” His lips drew a thin line. “I’m afraid this is our best option if we want to leave alive.” He finished the last of his arrows and tucked them away in his quiver. He helped Eva climb up. His eyes flashed with concern upon seeing Lydia standing still. “Aren’t you coming Lydia?”

Lydia gripped herself. She hears the words the children would whisper at her. Why is she so weird? Do we really need her? What a klutz! She gripped her arm. Her eyes down to the earth. “Wouldn’t I slow you down?” Tears began to sting her eyes. “I’m a total klutz and the Crogs might hear me. I might not even be able any help for your escape if need be.” Her cheeks were soon wet.

Eva reached out to her. “Don’t say that. We’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”

Akka nodded. “That’s right. We’re a team. We have a mission to do. You are an important part of it.”

Lydia stood there. Her eyes widened. She didn’t even notice her braids were starting to come undone. All her life, no one but her mother would say that. The tears slowed but were bright in the low light. A smile crept on her face. Lydia reached out to them. In a matter of minutes, she was lifted onto G’dar. The wind whistled in her ears as they flew away. A weird sense of comfort crawling over her. A sense of belonging.

---------------------------(Outside Crog Emperium Palace)----------------------------------
Rising in the dark horizon, A metallic castle with the color of blood stood. Each pillar stood like sharp briars. The flags of the Crogs billowed in the breeze of the poisoned air. Each entrance was heavily guarded. Whatever windows were actually there were closed shut. Much like the occupants of this dark planet.

G’dar hovered to an alcove. It was large enough to hide the alien beetle while they went in. Once they landed, Akka gave him specific instructions. The trio went down a small ravine. Lydia plastered her back just to avoid falling off the narrow ledge. Silently as they could, they reached the area where several guards stood at the entrance. They ducked behind a rock just as a Crog was about to spot them. Akka made a few gestures, then fired the first arrow. A spark of light hit a ledge which made the guards go in the intended direction.

The three ran into the entrance. They moved deeper and deeper until they reached a path that split into three. Eva groaned. She turned to Akka. “Do you know which way to go?”

Akka sighed. “I’ve only been here once. We may need to go at one at a time.”

Suddenly, an axe suddenly swung at them. It barely missed Eva by an inch. Lydia screamed then immediately ran. The young linguist went into the third tunnel on the left. Before Eva and Akka would run after her, Crog guards were heading toward them. All readying axes and swords. Closing in on them. Eva looked at Akka. They didn’t want to leave Lydia alone. However, they had to outrun the vast horde that outnumbered them. Another arrow activated. Then, another and another. The whole room lit with light.

Meanwhile, Lydia kept running. Her mind screamed to get away. Visions of teeth and yellow eyes staring at her. She soon heard more guards coming. From both sides! Her legs screeched to a halt in the hall she was in. “We’re trapped. Eva wh-” She whipped her head around. Then, realization hit her. “AHHHHHH! I left them behind!” What do I do? She thought frantically. I don’t have a proper weapon! My carving knife wouldn’t even make a dent in their skin! Lydia tried to think of her options but nothing came to mind. She sighed and leaned back against the wall. Unaware of a hidden trigger behind it. “I’m doomed.”

The wall opened behind her. She immediately tumbled backwards. The wall slammed up before anyone would notice the hole. In the dark, she kept rolling around until she hit a pillar. Her bag slid across the floor. “OOOOOWWWW!” She slowly got up from where she was. Her hand rubbing her head lightly. She got up from her spot. “Not what I had in mind.” Her eyes looked around the room. It was a library. Small, simple. It had a few bookshelves. The room was dimly lit by candles. In the center was a desk with three Crog sized books resting there. A metallic chair also stood with a blood red cushion. Something about this room felt a little less foreboding compared to the rest of the planet.

Lydia stared in amazement. “Never thought it would be the day that I would see some decorations from the Crogs. Let alone any books.” She went over to the chair. After a few attempts to get up, she began to admire the red, black and cobalt blue leather. Her hands follow the etching. The words jagged. She opened the first book on the desk. The pages opened to strange images of Crogs going on a harsh journey. Lydia pulled out her camera and began to take pictures.

Each page made her enveloped in the details. Vibrant reds, blues and yellows among the black. Crogs marching to places that are unknown. A strange horned deity gives blessings. Two Crogs, one male and one female, held hands while wearing formal garb. Despite not having been able to fully translate the language, Lydia could feel passion and ferocity in the passages. Her hands rubbed the pages despite her gloves. Her heart felt like it would burst from her chest. Tears sprang from her eyes. How could an alien race this violent would make books this beautiful?

She clutched her head and her heart. She didn’t know why but they throbbed. Her skin crawled. Her camera clunked on the floor. A flash erupted in the room. Once the pain subsided, Lydia took several deep breaths. Her body shivering. A faint noise reached her ears. Footsteps. Heavy footsteps. It didn’t take her long to realize what it was. She fell out of the chair, snatched the camera and put it back in her purse once she was able to locate it. Lydia only had a few seconds to head to the nearest bookshelf. She hid herself in a gap that was only big enough for her to squeeze through. Her breath held.

In the small corner of vision she could see, she saw a Crog that was way different from the other guards. He had a more regal manner to him. His size was still the same as an average adult Crog. However, his ears held a different story. They were like black lightning bolt against his head. The second pair is smaller with a small nick on the left ear. He wore a deep red cloak. His golden eyes scoured the room. He turned in each direction. Then, he went over to one of his books. “Hmmm…” His voice sounded smooth like silk. “I know you’re in here, human.”

Lydia held back a squeak. She cupped a hand over her mouth. She hid her camera in her bag. Her ears picked up the sounds of the steps coming over to the shelves. Her heart raced. Her throat tightened. As the steps got closer, only one idea of how to get out of this came to mind. Lydia placed her hands against the wood. Once the Crog was close enough, she pushed with all her might. She could feel some weight give way. “Al..most...Got it…” Her body suddenly felt a weird jolt like someone was helping her push it away.

“By Kraam!” The bookshelf soon collapsed on top of the Crog. It didn’t pin him down, but it was a distraction enough.

Lydia burst out of her hiding place. She ran with all her might. A few feet from the hiding place, she could hear movement of something tossed away. Then, she jumped over a Crog with unnatural grace. For some reason, Lydia can’t get rid of the sense that she’s seen that Crog somewhere before. She didn’t have enough time to think about that, Lydia had to get back to Eva and Akka.
----------------(Meanwhile)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eva threw one more statue at the oncoming Crog soldier. It did little to slow them down. Akka wasn’t having much luck either. He was running low on arrows and spells. They had only been able to traverse half of the palace and were only able to scrap some metal. So far, Lydia wasn’t anywhere in sight. All they knew was she might’ve been captured...or worse.

“We need to get out of here!” Akka said.

“But we can’t leave without Lydia!”

“We’ll-” The Nourasian prince was soon pinned down by one of the Crog guards. His bow broke in two.

“Akka!” Eva was soon knocked down as well. She struggled under the guard’s grasp but nothing. Her helmet was knocked away. To her surprise, she found that she was able to breath. Doesn’t change the fact I’m taken prisoner, she thought. Eva glared as she was taken away. Before long, she and Akka arrived in what had to be the throne room. Rows upon rows of guards glared at them. She got a better look at the throne that the Crog Emperor sat on as she was flung to the ground.

The throne was warped. Metal spikes jutted out like thorns. Red flags attached at the tips. Sitting tall was the emperor. His crown bore metallic spikes that jutted upward. His ears like large pairs of lightning, each of equal length. He wore the traditional crimson red. Armor clad. His shoulder pads spiked. A long red cape flowed out behind him like a river. His eyes glared at the two heroes before him. His fingers gripped hard on the armrest.

Akka looked up. “Emperor Dusk.”

“Prince Akka…” The Emperor spoke with so much venom in his voice, it made all the guards around them silent. “I’m so glad you can finally come. What with your betrayal to the Crogs and your people.”

Akka grunted. “You know as well as I do that the Nourasians didn’t ally with you willingly.” He soon received a hard kick that made him fly halfway across the floor.

“You will do well to hold back your tone.” The Emperor turned to look at Eva. “So...This is the famous human, Molly, the one who raced under the Earth Coalition.”

Eva got onto her feet. “How do you know about that?”

“Toros made a mention of you before his execution. Even now, you’ve robbed the Crogs of a very special power that would’ve changed everything.”
Eva gave a smile. “Well. Sorry that you’re met with disappointment.” She jumped away before a kick landed on her side.

“Hold your insolent tongue.” The Emperor said. His eyes went cold. Unaware that Lydia was up on a balcony, listening at every word. He walked down to them. “Your weak race had no place among the stars. Just as the Nourasians had no right to rise against us. Now the two of you will be made of an example of those that defy us.” He reached for Eva.

Lydia stared in shock. Her heart grew louder. Tears pricked in her eyes. No...She couldn’t lose them. Not after they reached out to after so many would leave her. I can’t...They’re counting on me. She instinctively reached out for a rope which had a chandelier high above the tree. Lydia got onto a ledge and swung without a second thought. In her bag, her green stone glowed. “Nooooooo!!” In a matter of minutes, everything crashed together and a smoke of dust appeared.

After a chorus of coughing, everyone looked at Lydia. Most of it was anger but Akka and Eva looked at her in surprise. Lydia stood before the Emperor. Her whole body shook in fear and anger. Her breath was deep and ragged. Teeth clenched to give her a feral growl. “How...dare...you…” She looked at him square in the eye. In her hand was a rock. She threw it with all her might. It bounced off but she didn’t care. “HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO THEM! The Noruasians weren’t your allies by choice! You bullied and threatened them of extermination! You act like you have the power of the cosmos to decide the fate of others. You say Earth and the other races are weak.” She took a deep breath. “Yet we still kept going. We’ll not stop no matter how many times you attack us. I may not know your past but I don’t doubt that it was no different from us. Neverending battles. Struggle for power! That will only continue if we allow it to do so. Tell me, if you’re that powerful, why do you wish to take down the Earth Coalition? Afraid? Sounds like someone who’s truly weak to me.”

Without warning, she was soon smacked hard by the Emperor’s fist. Lydia flew into the air and landed halfway across the floor. She coughed. Her body racked with pain. Her helmet flew off. The green stone vibrating. A soft glow started to draw whispers. Lydia slowly got up. She reached out and grabbed the stone. Her fingers curled around it. The energy of the earth calling to her. Beckoning to have a name. She stared up at the Emperor.

The Emperor glared at her. “Insolent human! You’ll be the first I’ll make example of!” He raised his arm high. The gauntlet he wore immediately produced a blade. “Any last words?”

“Ish...tar…”

“What?”

“Ishtaaaaaaarrrrrr!”

At that moment, green lights filled the room. Blinding everyone. A wind howled. Shapes disoriented the throne. Plants began to sprout everywhere. Flowers and small trees. Standing before everyone was a massive green boar. Lime green eyes glared at the surprised Crogs. Lydia sat on her back. The human looking like a mighty warrior.

The creature rammed at the Crog Emperor, returning his cruelty. She opened her maw to let out a roar. The tusks swung wildly. “I came to my mistress’ call. Her heart yearns for me and I shall serve thee until I’m no longer needed. For I am Ishtar.” She roared again. Lydia clung onto the creature as she lunged forward. It didn’t take long for the Crogs to attack. They swung axes and swords. The weapons were deflected by thick pelt or destroyed by the wild plants.

“Eva! Akka!” Lydia yelled. She pulled them up onto Ishtar as they got closer. “Hang on! I think I need to tell Ishtar to get out of the castle.” She patted Ishtar’s side and pointed on where they needed to go. Ishtar did just that. They were only a few feet from the exit when Emperor Dusk intercepted again.

“You’ll not get away!” He raised his blade again. He was soon met with Ishtar’s tusks. Both of them barely gave an inch.

Ishtar glared. “I come to serve my mistress! I felt her sorrow and fear.” She knocked him over with one firm jerk upward. Her hoof pinned the Crog down. She lowered her face to the point where her snout was only inches from his face. “You are nothing more than a monster that must be removed to prevent any more sorrow to all.” Istar raised another hoof. It contorted and shifted into a dagger.

Lydia found fear in the Crogs eyes. I wanted them to stop being bullies, not this! She shut her eyes. “Ishtar STOP!” She felt a jolt. Her grey eyes opened to see everything frozen in place. Eva and Akka stared at her slack-jawed. The Crogs stood still. Ishtar’s hoof hovered above the golden eyes of Emperor Dusk. Lydia soon spotted the Crog she saw at the secret library. A look of amazement and fear on his face. Her hands and shoulders shook. Tears sprang into her eyes. “Let’s...just leave. Grab some metal as well.” As Ishtar began to move, Lydia tried to wipe the tears from her eyes.
--------------------(A few hours later, hiding place)-------------------------------------------------------
Akka and Eva tried to sneak back to the wrecked ship, but were only able to grab a few parts including a control console. As Ishtar walked, plants began to grow wildly on this hostile planet. They met up with G’dar as they made their way back to their hiding place.

Lydia slithered down Ishtar’s back. She shivered. Memories of sharp teeth. Grinning men. The darkness surrounding her. Lydia had tears rushing back to her again. She sniffled. Unable to contain those feelings any longer. She sat down on a rock. “I’m so sorry you two. I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn.”

Akka gave a small smile. “Don’t be. You basically voiced what I wanted to say. Except for them being weak. That took a lot of courage!” He laughed.
Lydia blushed. “Oh...I’m not that brave.”

Eva moved forward. A big grin on her face. “Are you kidding me?! You dropped in like a super spy and owned that emperor guy! Then summon-her!” She then turned to Ishtar. “How did you come out of that stone?”

“She gave me a name.” Ishtar stated simply. “I was alive but only given a name would I be truly whole.”

Lydia fiddled with her glasses. “I picked the name after the Babylonian goddess of war and love. I thought it would fit since you’re so fierce looking.”

Ishtar simply rubbed the dirt nervously. “What now, mistress?”

Lydia turned to the scrap metal. “Well...We need to build our ship and fast.”

Suddenly, Ishtar began to glow. She placed her snout on the metal. The metal rumbled. Vines popped out. Everything blurred as everything meld together. Screeches made it worse. In a matter of seconds, the glow faded and a spaceship now stood before them. Ishtar groaned and turned back into a small stone figurine. The ship was made out of plant material but the metal origins were still present. The symbol of the Earth Coalition, the Nourasians and a mysterious sign etched into its side.

Lydia picked it up. Her fingers curled against the cool, hard stone. She sighed. “Thank you, Mercu…” Tears ran down from her eyes. Her head began to sting as she started to hear something further in the distance. She turned to the direction of it. It sounded like large footsteps running toward them. “We need to go. Now!” She immediately ran to the door of the newly built ship.

Eva and Akka looked confused. Suddenly, an axe appeared next to them. Eva screamed. “Why does that keep happening to us?!” With that, the duo soon ran to the ship. In a matter of minutes, they took their seats. Buttons frantically pressed. G’dar immediately crawled into the further portion of the ship. Akka was ready to curse in his language when the ship roared to life.

The doors shut. The engines flared with fire. It moved with great precision. It took off just as a huge group of Crog soldiers appeared. A gust of wind forcing them to cover their eyes. The ship flew higher and higher. Almost above the horizon. However, the tritons, Crog ships, flew after them.

“What the-” Eva exclaimed. Her eyes widened in dismay. “They’ll catch up to us. The thrusters aren’t fully operational yet!”

“I’m out of arrows.” Akka said. He pulled out his knife. Ready for the worst.

Suddenly, Lydia’s eyes glowed. The braids of her hair came undone. Green veins appeared on her skin. Her lips moved but no sound came out. The lights leaked out of the ship. It struck the ground. Vines and thorns sprouted out, grabbing the ships. Trees tearing up the ground. Breaking the metal. The spaceships began to be pulled down to earth. Before long, Kramm was now covered in emerald carpet with dotted flowers. Lydia collapsed with Eva supporting her.

Lydia adjusted her glasses. Her mouth seemed to hurt. She looked up, dazed and confused. “What happened? Did I do something?”

“Well, whatever you did,” Akka said. “It stopped the Krogs completely in their tracks. For how long I’m not sure. However, we’re in the clear now.”

Eva helped Lydia propped up. “Lydia, what was that?”

“I...don’t know. All I know is that...I wanted the Crogs to just leave us alone.” She looked through the nearest window. The sky was filled with nothing but stars. She smiled. Then, she looked at Eva and Akka. “Before we talk to the Earth Coalition, can you tell me what’s going on? If we’re going to do this together, I want to know what it’s all about.” Lydia made herself comfortable as she heard the reluctant explanation. Unaware that one of her stones was missing.
-------------------------------(Back at the Crog Emperium Palace)------------------------------------
The Crogs were hard at work chopping away the vines and roots that held their ships down. However, their efforts proved to be in vain. Curses and grunts explode in the air. Weapons break. Blades stuck in the green walls.

Emperor Dusk sat on his destroyed throne. His anger seething. His ears flicked with irritation. So far the reports had shown that all the ships around Kramm were immediately shut down. “How?” He growled under his breath. “How could that single human do this?” Her words raked through his head painfully. Suddenly, some footsteps broke his concentration. Emperor Dusk gazed at the Crog that stood before him. “Ah...Scorpio...What confounding reason would you reveal yourself?”

Scorpio sighed. “Please father. Not this again. You know that we have an unstable government as it is and you know my sister is way too young to take the throne.” He reached into his pocket. In his large hand was a small orange stone. It glowed in the dim light. A fire pulsed on his palm. Scorpio moved it to his fingers, making sure not to crush it. He waved it against the plants. The closest vines moved away from it.

Emperor Dusk raised his eyes in surprise. “Interesting...With that stone we can fix this accursed plague and send the army to war.”

Scorpio tucked his stone away. “Actually. It would be best if I go alone.” His golden eyes narrowed. “There’s someone in that little trio I want to have a word with.”

Chapter Text

As the ship continued to move forward to their nearest destination for answers, Eva and Akka told her everything. The race of Oban. The Avatar. How Eva went by the name Molly in order to be with her father. The true nature of the “ultimate prize”. The face off of Canaletto and Jordan’s sacrifice. By the time they were done with the story, Lydia’s eyes were filled with tears. “I’m so sorry that you lost your mom because of that awful creep!” She rubbed her eyes. She sniffled. “If we ever go to Planet Phils, let’s see if you can make it up to him. I’m pretty sure it would make him feel a little better, you know?”

Eva gave a sad smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Suddenly, the monitors beeped ferociously. Eva found the button and the screen brought on a relieved Don Wei and the President. Don Wei leaned in closer, nearly knocking over one of the workers. “Eva! Thank goodness! I thought...Are you and the others alright?”

Eva leaned forward. “We’re alright. But…” She gave a nervous laugh and rubbed her hand behind her head. “We ran into some trouble.” She soon began to run the details about what happened after their crash. Upon mentioning the Crogs, Don Wei paled. The President only gave a grim expression.

“Did you get any intel about the missing humans?” The President asked.

Lydia craned her neck so she could be seen. “No sir. However, I did find something very interesting. I stumbled into a small room that was similar to a library. However, I was only able to take pictures of one book.” Lydia fiddled with the camera until she found what looked like a special send button. In a matter of moments, she noticed the two men looking at the images. “I’ll translate it as soon as possible. I don’t know what information might be in there, but it might not be battle plans.”

“Just translate!” The President said. With that, the screen went blank.

Eva soured. “I’m really starting to hate that guy.”

Akka sighed. “At least he didn’t question how we got out.” He turned to the girls. “Right now, we can’t say anything about Ishtar or the stones. We don’t know what they do or how they work. If they fall into the president’s hands, who know what will happen.” He was soon met by nods. He glanced at Lydia. Noticing the tired and frail look on her body. “Go get some rest. You’ve seen it take a toll on you. We’ll let you know when we reach the next planet.”

Lydia nodded. She unbuckled her seatbelt and walked away. It took a while to find her room until she found a door with her name etched in it. Once she was inside, Lydia set her bag and glasses down. She plopped onto the bed. She was surprised at how soft it was. The earthy smell gave her a sense of relief as she drifted off to sleep. Memories of laying in a field of lavender swaying in the breeze. Suddenly, a large shadow stood over her. It was strange. Instead of running away, she smiled warmly and offered a spot. It lasted for a very long time.
---------------------------(Sometime later)----------------------------------------------------------
Lydia heard a knock on the door. She groaned. Her eyes blurry. She rubbed them. Lydia lifted her head. This is the first time in a long time where she didn’t wake up from a nightmare. Her arms clung to a pillow. Lydia’s mouth hung open in a small “o” as she tried to speak. “Who issss it?”

“Lydia? It’s Eva.” Eva’s voice carried through the metal door. “We’re arriving at the nearest planet for fuel. Come on. Get ready for landing.”

Lydia yawned. She got up. She picked up her glasses and bag. She opened it to see that Istar was still in her stone form. “I wish you could tell me how you work.” Lydia looked at the sky. “Mercu...I wish you were here.” She walked out. Unaware that her braid had come undone.

A little while later, Lydia and Eva sat down. They began pushing buttons, secretly hoping it wouldn’t crash. Akka fiddled with his seat. Next to him was a fresh set of arrows that seemed to be made from the ship. The engine hummed as the ship began to move forward. A small planet soon came into view. A small brownish-grey marble in a sea of black. The planet grew as they got closer.

“Where are we headed?” Lydia asked.

“Byrus.” Akka answered.

Lydia nearly did a double take. She quickly grabbed Ishtar and the other stones that tumbled out of the back. “Byrus! As in...the planet that was polluted by the Crogs? The home planet of Rush?!” She turned to Eva. “Isn’t he one of your friends you made during the race?”

Eva grinned. “Yep! There wasn’t any Crog activity...That we know so far since we don’t know what sort of features Ishtar put in the ship…” Her grin went awkward.

An awkward silence hung in the air. Lydia pulled up Ishtar. “I can’t believe Mercu didn’t tell me about the stones' powers. If only I could get Ishtar to talk to me.” Lydia gasped as Ishtar glowed. The stone grew and began to become soft. Lydia’s grey eyes grew wide as there was no longer a stone pig, but now a tiny boar curled up on her lap.

Eva gawked. Akka’s blue eyes grew wide. The Nourasian looked at Lydia. “Miss Lydia. I think these stones are only activated by your heart’s desire.”
Lydia shook. She looked down. The little boar had the same green pelt like the bigger version earlier. The tusks were small stubs. Ishtar twitched. Her eyes were peridot green as she opened them. Lydia put a gentle hand on the creature. She gave a small smile as Ishtar rubbed her head against her hand.

“Good morning, Mistress. How shall I serve you today?” Ishtar asked.

Lydia blushed. She’s never the type to give commands. She normally follows them. “W-well….can you tell me how you made this ship and how these stones work?” Lydia pulled out the two other stones. To her dismay, she soon realized that she was missing the oranges stone!

Ishtar gasped. “My kin!”

Eva raised a brow. “Kin?”

Ishtar looked at them. “Yes. I’m a stone beast.”Then she looked embarrassed. “That’s what I know so far. I know that these other stones are my siblings. We don’t have a soul until somebody carves the stone gives us a form and soul.”

Eva sighed. “So much for finding out more.” Suddenly, everything began to rattle. She looked up at the monitor. A diagram of the ship heading toward the planet soon flashed. Alarms sounded as the actual planet got closer. “Hang on! We’re coming in hot!”
As the ship entered the atmosphere, the ship began to turn bright oranged as it began to burn up. The engine roared as Eva, Akka and Lydia frantically tried to push random buttons in hopes that one of them would get them to land. As they got closer, the ground was as black as the night sky with only a few houses dotting them. Fortunately, Eva found a button that activated the wheels. The large wheels popped out. The wings angled which slowed their rapid descent. In a matter of minutes, they were able to land safely.

Lydia melted in her chair while Ishtar simply giggled. “Mistress, Let’s do that again.” The little pig was soon brought up in Lydia’s arms.

Lydia got up from her chair. “Maybe at another time…” She followed Eva and Akka out of the ship. She grimaced like her fellow teammates. Before her was an enormous carpet of scorched earth. Even with her helmet on, her lungs were tight against the clouded air. Lydia grew disgusted as the trio began to walk by rivers of yellow-brown sludge. A few destroyed buildings dotted the area. She began to take pictures while holding Ishtar in one arm. She could feel Ishtar’s rage vibrate off of her. The soft fur spiked with fury. Lydia hated to admit it, but she also felt that sensation crawling over her skin.

“No one so far…” Akka said. He gripped his bow tightly. He looked down at the ground. His mind went back to the times when the Crogs threatened him and his people. They even reduced to making him throw out the race. All just to avoid the same fate as Rush’s planet. Lydia was right. The alliance with the Crogs was nothing but cowardice and hate.

“There’s gotta be someone here. The only thing I know about Rush’s people,” Eva said. “Is that they’re usually optimistic and can’t make spaceships for long travels.” She narrowed her eyes to have a better view of the horizon. In a matter of minutes, she spotted a large shape over the horizon. “I think I see somebody.” Eva ran toward the shapes.

“Molly! Be careful!” Akka soon ran after her with Lydia trailing behind him.

As the trio ran, the shapes got bigger. Whiter. It soon became that they were Byrians. One looked like Rush. An orange beard with goggles sitting on top of his head. The other was more feminine. Her hair was kept in a braid. Dark eyes were filled with suspicion.

Eva gave a crooked smile. “Uh...Hi. I’m Eva, but Rush calls me Molly.” She jumped back just as a pickaxe swung at her. She growled. “Hey, watch it! I’m just making friendly conversation!” She readied her fists. She was surprised when Lydia came between them. Akka placed a hand on her shoulder, calming her rage. Is Lydia going to try to talk to them? She thought.

Lydia gulped. She wanted nothing more than to remove her gloves so she could rub Ishtar’s soft fur. Lydia looked up at them. “L-l-look...We mean you no harm. If you’re worried about the Crogs, then I can tell you that we’re not allies with them. They hate Earth as much as they hate your people.” She gulped when a weapon was close to her face. Ishtar growled fiercely.

“You expect us to believe you!” The male Byrian said. He glared at Akka. “The last thing I’ve heard is that the cowardly Nourasians allied with the Crogs just to make sure their precious planet didn’t blow up!”

Akka went silent. He grimaced, but said nothing.

“That’s not entirely true.” Lydia said. Lydia felt a hardened stone that was big as the orange one she lost. Her breathing intensified. “The Nourasians h-h-had broke things off with them. They finally understand that being allied with the Crogs. I-I know it’s a bit much b-b-b-but can we sit down and talk? Please?”

The female Byran leaned forward. “I think she’s telling the truth. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be that willing to stand under your pickaxe.”

The male Byrian was silent. He was about to say something when an engine roared in the distance. He didn’t bother to lower his weapon as he turned his head toward the noise. A cloud of dust headed in their direction. Then, stopped only a few feet away.
It was a massive ship. Bulky. It looked like a living forge with weapons on its side. A large figure popped up. Another Byrian. He wore goggles over his eyes. His beard was longer and flared out. His angled ears twitched. “What’s going on here?” He asked. Then his gaze turned to Akka and Eva. “Molly! Prince Akka! What are you doing here?”

Eva beamed as she ran over to the ship just as Rush got off. With great abandon, she hugged him. The two let out a laugh that seemed to melt away the gloom of the planet. “It’s so good to see you! It felt like forever since I last saw you. You look like you barely changed.”

Rush laughed. “Ha! You, on the other hand, have grown so much!” He reached out and hugged Akka. “You too, Akka.” His gaze then laid on Lydia. “Who’s this?” His lips went into a firm line. “Put that down, Aksin. You’re scaring the life out of her!”

Lydia sighed. Ishtar was calming down in her arms. She suppressed a giggle when Ishtar snorted. She looked at Rush. “Thank you. It’s really nice to meet you, Rush. I’m Lydia. I’m one of the Ambassadors to Earth.” With no time to waste, Lydia began to explain their mission and what they were doing on Byrus. “I do understand that they’ve stripped you of everything, but if there’s anything here that might maintain our ship. It should work. Also, are there any Crogs here or anything suspicious going on?”

Rush thought for a moment. He gave a soured expression. “Well...There are a few Crogs that like to slither back here every once in a while to make sure we stay in line.” He tightened a fist. “I would like nothing more than to get those beady-eyed creeps off my planet and restore it properly.” Then, he formed a smile. “But let’s put that bitterness aside. Come, you must meet the rest of my people.” He walked back to his ship just as Akka summoned G’dar.

Lydia, Eva and Akka climbed onto the beetle and took to the air. They soon joined Rush’s ship which now carried the two other Byrians. Ishtar simply stayed in Lydia’s arms the entire ride. The ride was a little bumpy as G’dar coughed. He squawked in protest at the acrid clouds. Thankfully, it didn’t take them long to arrive at a small cluster of buildings which was now doubt a village. They landed by Rush’s ship. Surrounded by various Byrians coming over to check them out.

Ishtar jumped out of Lydia’s arms. She landed with great ease and raised her head high. She smiled as some of the women cooed at the sight of the little boar. Suddenly, the ground began to shift. A small patch of greenery began to grow beneath her hooves. Gasps erupted. Even Lydia’s jaw dropped at the sight of this bizarre miracle.

“Ishtar!” Lydia said. “Did you know you could do that?”

Ishtar looked down at the grass. “Nope. Guess I do now. Watch my speeeed!” With that, Ishtar ran out into a blackened field. With every stride and strike of the hooves, plants began to spring everywhere. She laughed as everyone cheered. Rolling around only brought about flowers and young trees.Crops bloomed out. However, when she splashed into the water, the little pig jumped out. She sputtered out the polluted water. She shook herself. “Sorry folks. I guess I can’t fix the water for you.”

Lydia walked over to her as a chorus of groans went. She knelt down over Ishtar. “Well...At least the resources...you somehow were able to revive...can give these people something to eat.”

Rush laughed once again. This time, that laugh was followed by whoops and cheers. “That’s the spirit, Lydia! Come brothers! Let’s start a brand new harvest!” In a matter of minutes, there was a live celebration. Music played loud and clear. Smells of herbs and spices tickled the nostrils. Everyone sat down and talked about their ancient history. A few went stiff at the mention of the Crogs. Even when Lydia asked if any were still walking around, the female Byrian, Brinnnia, the sister of Aksn tightened her lip. As if she wanted to protest about something but didn’t want to say anything.

“Yeah...A few of them are still crawling around here.” Askn said.

“One that you should avoid at all cost,” An elderly Byrian said. He wore a thick greenish-brown robe with symbols on it. No doubt indicating that he was the Chief of this group. “Sagittarius. He’s smarter than most of the Crogs. I’ve even heard he’s a prodegy when it comes to strategy. Smarter than most grunts. You can tell it’s him by the armor he wears. Even wore a pair of our goggles!”

Late at night, Lydia began taking in all the cultures and stories. She wrote every word with ease. Her camera made her very popular with the locals and started her own photo shoot. She even went as far as sharing some of the languages from Earth. Her throat hurts from removing her helmet to eat, but it didn’t matter. It felt so nice to be heard for once. As she sat down, she began to pull out the blue stone. Lydia blushed as everyone gathered around her.

“What a pretty stone!” One child said.

“Where did you get that?” Rush asked.

Lydia felt blood rushing to her ears. Then, she felt a slight tingling on her head. Maybe it’s because my hair is down for the first time, she thought. “W-w-well...This was given to me by a very dear friend of mine. I met him while I was a little girl.”

“Oh yeah.” Eva said. “You said someone by the name of Mercu. Who is that?”

Lydia never thought to talk about her past besides her mother. When it came to the counselors she would only stutter to keep herself from hyperventilating.Her body shook. She felt Ishtar put her hoof on her leg. Lydia looked at her. She would have to tell them sooner or later. Lydia took a deep breath to calm down. “My mother...was a scientist. She was very smart. One of the best in her field studies, Anthology. It was going to be used to help with building stronger relationships with other intergalactic residents. Or so she thought…”

Akka gazed at her with concern. “What do you mean?”

Lydia’s throat went dry. “She...got involved with the wrong people. They were doing things that went against Intergalactic laws. Mercu got tangled in them. When she met my dad, it was a wake up call for her to get out. She did but it wasn’t easy. By the time I was born things were quiet….Until I got kidnapped.”

“KINAPPED?!” Everyone was in an uproar. It took a long time for things to settle before Lydia continued.

Lydia wrapped her hand around the stone. “I-I was outside on a playground. My mother was running late to pick me up from school. So, I just simply drew in the sand. A bunch of men came out of nowhere and grabbed me. I screamed and kicked but no one came to help me.” She shivered as memories of dark rooms crept in her soul. The men were laughing at her. “The only things I remember is being trapped with several other kids and undergoing special tests. Mostly just going through a maze.I...thought it would never end.” Tears began to form in her eyes. Then, it happened. A form for the stone appeared in her mind. A seahorse. Regal. Comforting and friendly. Swimming with ease in the water. She sniffed. Her shaky hand picked up the knife. “Then, Mercu came and rescued us. Don’t ask me how he found me, but he did. Once he dropped the kids off closest to their home, he walked me back. I was so scared and cried the entire time.” With each carve, she began to form the plump body of the seahorse. The narrow face taking shape. Her smile grew big as she began to remember the fox alien. “He started to cheer me up with some stories about his homeworld and showed me these stones. Said that they were special and that if I carved them, I wouldn’t be so scared or alone anymore. He brought me home. Then, he was attacked before I could thank him.” As she finished, the stone was finally complete.

“Can you draw what he looks like?” Rush asked.

Lydia picked up a stick and began to draw. The outline of the fox ears. Nine fox tails twirling and wrapping around. The silver eyes and grey fur had to be described since there were no colored pencils for her.

Rush thought for a moment. “Looks a little familiar.”

“It is?” Akka asked. He cocked his head as he handed a piece of food to G’dar.

“Only stories though.” Brinnina answered after being silent for so long. Her voice was surprisingly smooth despite her large frame. “They were considered one of the oldest races in space. They vanished. I think they’re called Kitnina.”

“Kintnina.” She looked done at her work. It was strange that Mercu had told her so much about his home but so little about his race in general. Maybe she’ll find the answers in space. Like Ishtar, there was life radiating from it. However, it was much different from her. Gentle. Shy. However,he was willing to give comfort to her when she needed it. Lydia could feel it. A name. One that spoke of the ocean. “Hello...Alon.”

The room glowed a bright blue light. The water started to purify in the jugs. A cool sensation filled the room. A small blanket of ice gleamed across the surface. Everyone just stood in amazement as the glow faded away to reveal a bright blue seahorse. He was small. The same height as Ishtar. He slept. Then, he opened his eyes. A wail escaped from his mouth. Tears streaming from his Robin egg eyes.

Lydia cradled him. “There, There. It’s ok.” She kept rocking Alon until he stopped crying. “Hi Alon, my name’s Lydia. I’m...your mistress. Though I’m not the type to give commands. This is Byrus.” She lifted him up to show her newfound friends. “These people are really nice so you don’t have to worry, ok?”

Alon soon began to settle down. He lifted his head to turn around. He started to calm down. He cooed. He even giggled when some of the Byrian women began to fawn over him. Giant hands rubbed against his head. Without thinking, he rolled out of Lydia’s arms and began to float.

Lydia gave a weak smile before she collapsed in a heap. Her shoulders were touched by a concerned Eva. She gazed up. “I’m fine...Just tired. I completely forgot that backlash…” She tried to get up. Then, Lydia was carried off to another room with the help of Rush. She soon felt Ishtar and Alon curl up next to her. Whatever words Rush said were drowned out by the dive into darkness. Never in her life was she able to feel so comforted, but yet so full of questions of the stones and Mercu. Her dream was filled with being curled up in one of his nine tails. Brushing his soft fur.

Suddenly, a sharp pain touched Lydia’s head. She scratched at it. Then she heard a muffled noise. It sounded like footsteps. Heavy ones. She woke up from her sleep. She groped in the darkness to find her glasses. Ishtar and Alon both awoke at the same time. Lydia got onto her feet. She peered through the darkness. There, she saw a large shadow leaving the hut of the slumbering giants. Lydia followed. Careful not to awake anyone. Once she stepped out into the green moonlight, she saw Brinnia walking away into the shadows of night. She looked at her small animal friends.

“Mistress?” Ishtar said. “Can we follow her? She’s been funny the entire time we’re here.”

Lydia nodded. “Yes, but do it quietly. The both of you.”

“Don’t leave us out for fun.”

Lydia jumped and turned around to see that Eva stood there with Akka at her side. The Nourasian Prince bowed. “I apologize for scaring you. It seems we’re all suspicious of her. Remember Lydia, you’re still recovering.” Despite Lydia protesting, the duo joined her in following their mysterious Bryian maiden.

Chapter Text

Lydia held her breath. She held Alon in her thin arms. Her eyes are trying to make out everything in the darkness. Her ears strained but it only made her head hurt. All she could do was follow Akka and Eva. It proved a little difficult as she began to slip and fall a few times due to the ashy ground. She even had to pick up Ishtar because the little pig began to leave a grassy trail behind her. Lydia nearly yelped when she saw Brinnia stop and turn around. She jumped to the nearest rock to hide. Nearly bumping into Eva in the process.

“Shhh!” Eva hissed. She peered over the rock. Brinnia soon continued to walk on to her unknown destination. “Ok.”

Akka soon joined them from his hiding place. He pulled out his weapon. His steps filled with caution. Barely making any sound. He continued to stay in a crouched position. Then, he raised his hand to stop the girls. “I think we’re here.” He pointed to a small clearing that was slightly surrounded by a few pillars. Akka led the girls to the nearest

Brinnia simply stood there. Her white form turned ivory in the moonlight. Her red hair turned copper at the touch. She was staring out at a patch of darkness that the moon can’t shine. “Sorry I took so long. I had to wait until everyone’s asleep. There’s three strangers that just came here today. They were asking about the Crogs around here.”

Footsteps were soon heard. They were large. Heavy. An air of tension surrounded the area. A pair of yellow eyes glowed out of the darkness. A large figure loomed over Brinnia like black ink taking on a physical form. He wore an average Crog grunt uniform, but had a pair of goggles. The same kind that the Byrian elder described. It was Saggitarius. “It can’t be helped, my dear. I just received a message about an incident back at Kraam. If you describe these visitors to me, I wouldn’t be too surprised who they are.”

“She wouldn’t sell us out!” Lydia said in a hushed whisper. She turned to Eva. “Would she?” The group watched as Brinnia described them to Sagittarius. They all groaned quietly.

“She would….” Eva said.

Akka stared at them with puzzled confusion. He rubbed his chin. “It doesn’t make sense...All the Byrians hate the Crogs for what they did. Even Brinnia seemed to be joyful when Ishtar got some trees growing.”

They watched closely as Saggitarius raised his hand. It was open. His movements made him look like he was about to strike her. Eva readied her fists. Akka gripped his weapon tighter. Lydia held on to her creatures. To their shock, he only placed it on top of her head. “You must be more careful with yourself if you plan on seeing me this recklessly.” His golden eyes gazed over to the spot they were hiding. “Come out now. Best not do anything foolish.”

Lydia gulped. Her heart raced. Is he serious? She thought. Before she could do anything, Alon floated out of her hands and went over to the two giants. Even Ishtar squeaked at this strange sight. Lydia followed behind. She held Ishtar in case anything happened. Before long, Akka and Eva slowly came out with her. Lydia looked closely at Brinnia’s face. Wait...Is Brinnia...Blushing?!

Akka raised his weapon. “What do you want with us, Sagittarius?”

“Calm yourself, Prince Akka.” Sagittarius said. “I simply wanted to have a peaceful afternoon with my…’friend’.” Something about the way he said friend was a little shaky. Like he wasn’t sure where to put Brinnia. There was a small sparkle in his eye as he looked at her. “Besides, I know that you only came here out of simple curiosity. I’m not the one to give commands since I’m a grunt mind you. So I wouldn’t lead you all to an ambush. It’s quite droll if you think about it.”

Lydia gaped. Her mouth formed a small “o”. Her eyes nearly fell out of her sockets. “Wow!” She said before she could stop herself. “You’re very sophisticated for someone who’s a low ranking soldier.” Lydia smacked her mouth closed. Her cheeks turned bright red. Rarely does she say these sorts of things, but when she does it means trouble.

Brinnia let out a loud laugh. Her face still had that tint of red. “You’re probably the first person to say that aside from me.”

“Can someone please tell me what’s going on?!” Eva said.

“L-love…”

Everyone turned to the little seahorse that floated a few feet above Sagittarius. Alon curled his tail around the Crog’s ear. His eyes focused on him. “M-misstress. T-this Crog seems to like the Byrian a certain way.”

Brinnia turned an even deeper shade of red at this remark. Sagittarius cleared his throat. However, the gleam in his eyes showed that Alon might be right on to something.

Lydia braved herself for the next question. “So...How did you two meet? Um...I mean...it must’ve been hard to get along.”

Sagittarius walked over to Akka. “Of course.” He snagged something that could be barely seen in his large hand. “But first I’m going to have to remove a device on your suits.” Before anyone could protest, he began to grab the others and remove the hidden devices with ease. He opened his hands. In his palm were small metallic cubes. They glittered in the moonlight. Sagittarius looked up. A small laugh escaped him. “Judging by those looks on your faces, I guess you didn’t know that your superiors booby trapped your suits.”

Eva stared. “W-wha? Huh?”

“What’s going on here?!” Ishtar huffed.

Sagittarius pulled out some tools and began to tinker with the small objects. “I heard a strange hum. It’s low so it can’t be heard at a normal frequency range. Recently, I became suspicious of foul play the moment I heard that some of the Crogs back home suddenly went ill the moment they intercepted you.”

Lydia gaped as she remembered something. “The Emperor! Is he ok?”

Sagittarius tilted his head while Eva and Akka stared in shock. “That’s new. No one would ever ask that question out of genuine concern. I know that many warriors would’ve been chomping at the bit to see one of us expire.”

Lydia fiddled with her fingers. “Well...He did strike me. However, I don’t think it’s right to think like that. I don’t know too much about Crogs or Kraam. I wish I could….” She looked him square in the eye. “We are supposed to be on a diplomatic mission. We shouldn’t have anything on us that causes extreme harm.”

“A modest soul…” Sagittarius muttered. “No. His armor is thicker. The Crogs who were inflicted were low-level grunts such as myself.” He lowered his goggles and pulled out a tool. It looked a little similar to a screwdriver. The Crog sat down on the nearest rock. He settled the metal items down on a cloth. He began to spark it. Soon, the items began to let out a pale green dust. “Interesting.”

Akka stared at the dust in curiosity. He was about to reach out when Sagittarius stopped him. “What is the meaning of this?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.”

Everyone jumped and turned to see Rush. The Byrian crossed his arms. His lips in a firm line. His chainsaw pickaxe strapped on his back. “I thought you were acting strange Brinnia. I thought you were still grieving over the loss of your little brother, but this-'' He pointed at Sagittarius. “Is the last thing I would expect.”

“Little brother?” Lydia asked. She was about to ask when Alon hovered over to her. The little seahorse weeping in her arms.

Brinnia’s dark eyes began to mist. “I’ll tell you. Please...Just don’t fight.”
-----------(Flashback to a few months ago)-------------------------------------------------------------
Brinnia cried over a small tombstone. A foriegn writing scrawled over the name of a child and the year they died. “I’m sorry…” She sobbed. “If only I could’ve done better.” Then, she looked at her weapon that laid beside her. The battle with the Crogs ended in failure. It was thanks to pollution that her brother drank poisoned water and died a month later. “It’s their fault that you’re gone.” She gripped the ground hard. The dirt between her fingers. “I’ll make every single last one of them pay! I may not take on a horde, but sabotage and a taking down a few grunts should start.”

A few days later, Brinnia found the hideout of a few Crogs that were stationed on Byrus to prevent another uprising. She hid in the outcropping of rock. Silent like a shadow. Her heart was tight against her chest. It was reckless. A fool’s errand. But she nearly lost all of her family due to illness and famine. Even Askn tried to talk her out of it to no avail. She saw a few Tridents stand before her. Brinnia readied her weapon. Once she was sure that the coast was clear, Brinnia launched an assault on the ships.

Each strike was audible. The swings are fierce. The metal hulls were torn apart. Mechanical parts flew high in the air. Her voice roared with all her fury. How she wanted a Crog to come in. Brinnia was about to move to the next machine when she saw some movement. She whirled around. Empty air only met her. Suddenly, she felt something hit the back of her head. Brinnia cried out and swung again. This time her weapon was stopped by a large hand. A dark figure loomed over her slightly. Yellow eyes staring at her.

“How vulgar.” The Crog grunt said. It was easy to see that from his clothes and ears. “A Byrian being this bold to actually do this.” He punched Brinnia’s stomach. As she dropped to her knees, he tossed pale purple dust into her face. He knelt in front of her. “Why don’t you settle down?” He held her as she fell over. Her dark eyes soon closed. In a matter of minutes, he picked her up with ease.

A few hours later, Brinnia regained consciousness. She laid on a firm bed that only had a few sheets underneath. Her vision blurred a bit before she could register what was going on. Brinnia tried moving her arms only to find that she couldn’t untie them. She looked down to see that rope was tied to her side. She tried to move her body but her legs and head couldn’t move. She growled and grunted. She huffed. “What in the Ram’s Horn is the meaning of this?!”

A yawn erupted. The Crog grunt got up from his spot. His goggles lay crooked on his head. One ear flopped downward. Giving him the appearance of a puppy. He rubbed his eyes. “I’m surprised you’re that responsive considering the amount of sleeping agents I put on you.” He yawned again. “Do you have any idea how hard it was to drag you here, fix the machines before the others came back and hide you?”

“Don’t care! Untie me Crog scum!!!”

“That’s...not going to happen any time soon.” He got up from his spot and walked over to a bag. He rummaged into it. His eyes focused on his task. When he found what he was looking for, he pulled it out and walked back toward her. He knelt down. “Here. I believe you haven't eaten anything in a while.” He opened a strange bundle to reveal several strange fruits. Dark red and soft. Before Brinnia could do anything, he popped one into her mouth with ease.

Brinnia instinctively chewed. She cringed a little. The fruit was bitter. The texture frail. She had to swallow the fruit. However, she had more fruit crammed into her mouth. Her heart burned with anger as she heard the Crog laugh. As the last of the fruit was gone, Brinnia tried to bite one of his fingers. Then, she stuck her tongue out.

The Crog laughed again. “That’s really adorable. Who knew that barbaric creatures like you could be so interesting.”

“Funny. I think a Crog is the most barbaric thing in the universe even with your fancy gizmos.” Brinnia smiled as the grunt glared at her. “Let’s see who wins the battle of wills.”

For weeks this “battle” went on. Brinnia would spit fruit out at her face. Sometimes bite him. In turn, he would drag her around or shove her in spaces that would make her a little claustrophobic. Even keep Brinnia awake with his tinkering. It seemed to reach a breaking point until the Crog grunt made a careless mistake.

One day, the grunt was running late. He had to shove a weapon he was working on along with Brinnia. Brinnia sat alone in the dark for a while. She leaned against an object. She flinched. Something about this object felt way too familiar. Her hand groped against the metal. To her excitement, she immediately recognized her weapon. She rubbed the ropes to the blade. Once they snapped, Brinnia moved it around and used it for her legs. Her mind began to think of a plan to get back at him.

The Crog grunt returned from his work. He sighed. “That Emperor will be the death of me. Next to Captain Leo.” He walked toward his closet where Brinnia is hiding. “Sorry, my dear. My shift took-” He did a double take as he saw an empty space. The weapon he previously worked on was missing. His ears drooped. Eyes wide. “Oh no…” An explosion of pain erupted in his head. Knocking him over.

Brinnia loomed over him. Her eyes filled with fury. On one hand, she held her axe-like weapon. It was modified with extended blades. In her other hand was the sleeping agent that the grunt used on her. “Now it’s your turn.” She shoved the agent on his face. Brinnia held on to him with all of her might. She waited until he started to go limp. His breathing evened. She sighed. “Now...for the hard part.” Brinnia looked at her weapon. She found two buttons on the handle. She nervously pressed one. To her surprise, it shrunk down to a small rod. “What the-” Brinnia had no time to register what happened as noise began to fill down below. She grabbed him and made for the fastest exit she could find.

Brinnia dragged him to a spot that he wanted him to see. A scenario that kept repeating in her head. Her rage boiled in her. Once she reached her spot, she gingerly set him down and sat at a nearby rock. Her eyes focused on the unconscious form.

The grunt groaned loudly. “OOOOOOOWWWW! My word...I had never-” He stopped his sentence. His eyes laid on a small grave. “Wha-What is this?” He tried to move but found he could only do a little. “Curses! This isn’t funny, Byrian!”

“Of course it isn’t.” Brinnia said in a menacing tone. “THAT is something that we would agree on. Look at that grave. There’s someone I want you to meet.” She pulled on his ear, ignoring his cry. “This is my younger brother. He was the sun of this planet. He loved making friends. He would play games among the rocks. Every single day he would tell jokes that would’ve split anyone’s side! He was poisoned by the waters your people polluted. Not that you care. All you seem to enjoy is torturing me!” She punched him hard. As she talked, she kept punching him. “You laugh at our misery! You look down on my people like we’re your playthings! The Crog Empire is a scourge that should’ve died long ago!” She grabbed her weapon. Her arms raised above her head to receive the final blow.

“WAAAAAAIIIT!” The grunt let out a fearful wail. “I-I didn’t mean to make you feel that way! I really do find you and your people interesting.”

“Lies!”

“N-no…” He said. Something about his voice wavered. Almost as if he was ready to cry. “I saw your weaponry. It was impressive, especially the fact that it can cut through a triton engine with dull blades. I thought it was a tune up. Some parts had to be replaced. Felt it could improve your combat repertoire. You...Byrians...are a colorful lot. More colorful than we are.”

Brinnia lowered her weapon. Slowly, she allowed herself to look at his face. To her surprise, she saw genuine fear. She knew Crogs were remorseless monsters. They never showed weakness toward an enemy, let alone their superior. Seeing tears out of his eyes was something Brinnia wasn’t expecting. He’s...not lying, She thought. Brinnia looked at her reflection in the blade of her axe. She could see she wasn’t herself anymore. Her eyes held bags. Her cheeks sunken. It felt like she was staring at a monster. The very monster that she wanted to destroy. “What am I doing?” She sat down. Tears sprang from her eyes. Her rage fizzled into sorrow. Brinnia cried. Her voice turned into a mournful wail. She tried wiping them away but they continued to flow down. Suddenly, she felt something warm wrap around her. She looked up to see the Crog had hugged her. At that point, she didn’t care. She continued to cry.

“I’m terribly sorry that my behavior upset you.” The Crog grunt said. “I guess the best thing to do at the moment is to do introductions. My name’s Sagittarius. What’s yours?”
----------------------(End of Flashback)-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lydia and the others stared blankly at the tale. It was hard to believe that something started harsh and cruel became a strange friendship. “Wow…” Lydia breathed. “I never imagined that anything good would come out of that.” She looked at Sagittarius. “Or encounter a Crog like you. I’m sure it was hard to keep your passion a secret.”

“Quite. I’m always fascinated with the mechanics of other civilizations and compare it to the history of our people.” Sagittarius sighed. His ears drooped. “However, that sort of thing is frowned upon by the Empire. Also, Brinnia is the only one who hears me out most of the time.” He looked at Rush, Eva and Akka with an annoyed look. “Until now. To make matters worse, Leo has been making it harder for me to meet Brinnia. It will be a matter of time before he finds us. Besides, I do find swinging weapons a total bore. I’d rather give logical diplomacy a try.”

Suddenly, a loud boom radiated in the far distance. Everyone got up from their spot and ran to the direction of the noise. Sagittarius doing great care in putting the powder and metal away. When they arrived, they all gaped in horror. The Byrian village was ablaze. The yellow eyes of Crogs seen among the flames.

Chapter Text

The village was ablaze. Byrians fighting off Crogs. Children crying. Fires dotted around like large fireflies. Sounds of screams and roars filled the air. Metal sparked with each clash. Plants that Ishtar brought back are now burning away.

“My plants!” Ishtar cried. Then, she growled. Her whole body glowed. In a matter of minutes, she was back to the original size. “They’ll pay DEARLY for that!” Istar let out a loud bellow. She charged with great speed.

The rest of the group was silent for a moment. Even Saggitarius was dumbfounded. “I...don’t understand...I checked. There wasn’t supposed to be a raid going on.”

Rush turned to him. Axe ready. “Yeah right! You expect me to believe that!”
“Actually...He’s just misinformed.”

Everyone froze. They turned to the direction of the harsh voice. Standing before them was another Crog. This one nearly looked like Kross. More red garments graced his body. He didn’t have the scar on his eye but had one like a jagged lightning bolt on his arm. He had a bemused look on his face. “I’ve always figured you had a soft spot for inferiors, Saggitarius. But I never realized the shameful extent.”

Sagittarius and Brinnia both narrowed their eyes. “Leo.” Sagittarius spoke, his voice filled with venom.

Lydia gazes at Sagittarius confused. Then, she noticed Akka grimace. She leaned as closely as she did to whisper to the Nourasian. “You know him, Prince Akka?”

Akka glanced back at her. “Only rumors. Captain Leo is notorious for battling till the very end. It’s believed he wants ‘honorable’ fights.”

Eva scowled. “Yeah...I bet he does.” Her hands balled up into a fist.

“What do you want with us?!” Rush roared. “Haven’t you done enough damage to my people?!”

Leo tilted his head. “Sagittarius seems to be fascinated by your kind for some reason. I suspected something was going on when he hid a toy amongst the weapons. He always gets excited about the newest creations.” His eyes soon focused on Lydia. “Ah...So this is the human that’s been causing trouble for our dear Emperor.”

Lydia flinched as the Crog General walked up toward her. Her heart was thundering hard. She wrapped her arms around a nervous Alon as the shadow loomed over her. Her feet tried to move but they were planted in place. Her lips locked in place.

Leo raised an eye in surprise. “Peculiar. I don’t see anything special about you. I don’t see anything special about you.” He chuckled darkly. “Still...I’ll need you to get further in the Emperor’s gracies.” He reached out for her when Brinnia blocked it with her weapon.

“Back off!” She growled.

Leo only grabbed her weapon. “Oh please! Stop being a girlfriend to a low-level grunt.” He flung her away with all his might.

Brinnia crashed into Sagittarius, causing him to fall over. The poison he held cracked upon impact. The contents spilled over her back. Britannia quickly got up from her spot. “Sagi! Are you ok?” Suddenly, a burning sensation crawled over her skin. She began to wheeze fiercely. She gripped her arms hard. Black veins began to appear. Brinnia wheezed. Then, she fell over.

“Brinnia!” Sagittarius kneeled over her. He shook her. “Brinnia get up! Please!” He soon realized what it was. “No…” Tears began to form in his eyes.

“That’s one problem taken care of.” Leo turned his attention to Lydia. He reached for her again only to be met by Akka’s arrows. A blue light temporarily blinded him. He glared at him. Eva threw a rock at the Crog General. Then, Rush came at him with his pickaxe raised high in the air. Leo dodged with ease and punched Rush hard in the stomach. He grabbed Eva and tossed her at Akka as Lydia got out of the way. “This is getting to be shameful and annoying. Quit it before-”

“LEEEEEEOOOOOO!!!!”

Leo was suddenly tackled to the ground. He was soon met with a melee of frenzied punches. They hurt...but only a little. He grabbed Sagittarius’ arm and twisted it. He smiled when it gave a loud snap and Sagittarius cried out. Leo shoved him back. Putting a foot on his chest. “Your acts of treason are only befitting to death.” He pulled out his sword and raised it high in the air.

“Stooop!” Lydia screamed. Tears ran to her eyes. She tried wiping them away but they wouldn’t stop. “Please…” Her legs grew shaky as she walked over to Leo. Her head slightly lowered. “I’ll go with but...please let them go. I fight you if you break your word.”

Leo let out a thunderous laugh. “You! Fight me?! Hah! As if you-”

“Belldemonos oso folouse eternum…”

“Wh-what did you say?” Leo flinched. He hid a shiver. Something about those words didn’t sit right.

“Belldemonos oso folouse eternum!” Lydia yelled. Her voice reached the other Crogs over the din of chaos. All of them pricked their ears and stopped their raid almost completely. Lydia stared in shock as a ring began to form them. Her breath hitched. Oh...I’m in trouble now…

Leo glared at her. “How do you know the war call?!” He was about to grab her then froze. He took a deep breath. “Very well. We could stand for a little entertainment.” He nodded to a nearby Crog who held a smaller weapon that was smaller than a Crog’s but might not be good with a regular human.

Lydia tried to hide a squeak as it hit the ground. She let go of Alon. She felt part of her long hair being intertwined with Alon’s tail. It didn’t seem ideal considering there’s going to be a battle involving blades. She reached out for the blade. Her grunts were met by laughter. She had to focus. Lydia was used to being laughed at before. Come on, Lydia. She thought. Sagittarius may be a Crog but he doesn’t deserve this. He was...just curious. Lydia gave one more heave until she fell backward. A roar of laughter hit her again.

“How pathetic!”

“What a worthless human!”

“So much for the war call! Wherever she got that from!”

Lydia sighed. Then, Alon looked over at her. Tears streamed out of his eyes. Lydia’s heart twisted at the sight. She reached out and touched him. Why would he stick around? Why would Ishtar? Suddenly, a small memory crept in her mind. A little shadow. Yellow eyes glaring at her with disapproval. A bitter smile crept on her mouth. She slowly got up. The laughter drowned out as she focused on grabbing the hilt of the weapon. She took a deep breath and lifted it again. This time, the Crog weapon was lifted off the ground.

A hush filled the air. All the Crogs looked at her. Even Leo was in shock at what he just witnessed. He lifted his foot, allowing Sagittarius to crawl away and carry Brinnia away. Ishtar and the Byrians that noticed the commotion were soon gathered there.

“You’re right. I’m pathetic. I learn things easily but I have a hard time not to fall over.” She raised the blade to arm level. She didn’t understand, but she felt something crawl underneath her skin. Feral. Ancient. A dormant beast that has had enough. “I can’t say the right things without annoying anyone. My passions get me in trouble.” Lydia looked Leo square in the eye. Unaware that Alon was giving off a faint, blue glow. Her mouth was a firm line. Her glasses turned cold. “I’ve lived with those words all my life! Yet here I stand with all of you! At least I’m real! The rest of you are pathetic! Boasting your strength. Putting other aliens down because you can!” She growled at them. “When will you boneheads...WAKE UP!”

When she screamed those words, Alon cried out. A blue flash blinded everyone. The air turned cold. Ice formed around them. Everyone shouted, scrambling to get away from a wintery blast. Snow flurries roaring from every corner. When it finally cleared, Alon was different from before. His seahorse shape was elongated. His fins developed icy spines. More fins trialed along his back like massive sails. He was now slightly bigger than Ishtar. A few icicles poked out of his head. To say he was regal would’ve been an understatement.

“Woah…”Eva breathed.

“Incredible…” Akka gazed at the massive creature that floated in the sky.

“Miss Lydia,” Alon spoke. “I feel your desires. I too want to end this dark nightmare.” He raised his tail high. “Time to level the field.” With a mighty flick, a ring of ice formed. All the bystanders backed away. Only Leo and Lydia were in the middle. Alon lowered his head to Lydia. “I won’t intervene in this fight. However, I can fix your weapon.” He lightly breathed on the weapon.

The blade gleamed. An icy sheen covered it. Waves and snowflakes carved into the metal. The hilt having a fox with nine tails. A rainbow stone cradled in its mouth. Lydia gasped. Her hands lightly going over the smooth design. The sword shrunk to the point where she was able to move it with ease.

Leo growled. “Enough gawking!” He drew his blade. “Now’s the time to fight!” He charged at Lydia. A roar filled his throat. He was on her in minutes. His blade is ready to strike her. A whining clang rang out. His weapon made contact with Lydia’s. Leo cried out as the sound began to hurt his ears. Even the other Crogs gripped their ears at the noise. The Crog General staggered back slightly.

Lydia blinked for a moment. She adjusted her glasses, which slid along the bridge of her nose. Her arm felt no pain despite the impact. Her grip was still in place. She readied herself. Then, Lydia ran up to him. She swung her sword and closed her eyes. When she opened them, a swell of pure joy entered her heart. Lydia managed to cut a wound on Leo’s thick skin. Her body tickled with excitement as her ears heard the roar of joy from everyone behind her.
“Nice job, Lydia!” Eva yelled.

“Work on your form!” Akka said. “Try using his size against him.”

“Make him regret what he did to our village!” Rush waved through the crowd.

“Get him, Mistress!” Ishtar laughed. Flowers growing under her hooves.

Lydia began to swing her weapon. She barely dodged Leo’s attacks. Sometimes hitting his sword. Her face hit against the ice wall. She slid. A few times she was able to use that to her advantage. The moment Leo got up from his latest fall with burning eyes, her heart sank. Uh oh, she thought. I gotta end this fast or I’m doomed! She looked at her blade. Lydia soon remembered the first time it clashed against something. Her gray eyes stared at the ice, then at Leo. If I can use the ice, I can disorient him long enough to take him down properly.

Leo roared. His yellow eyes burned with fury. “I will not lose to this whelp!” He raised his blade high. “This ends now!” He charged at Lydia at full speed.

Lydia ran as fast as she could in the other direction. She soon began to bang against her sword against the ice. The sound began to grow higher. A pitch that was so unbearable that even Eva, Akka and Rush plugged their ears. Lydia continued once she realized that Leo was still fighting off the noise. She ran over to the largest ice spike she could find. Before Lydia could reach it, Leo’s sword smashed into it. She froze in place. The angry din was dying down. Soreness finally reached her arms.

Leo let out a laugh. Dark and cruel. “Impressive. Not many of my opponents would last that long. Now...It’s time for you to end!” He pulled out a chunk of ice and threw it at her.

Lydia took a split second to leap over to Leo’s sword. Without even thinking, she ran along the giant blade and jumped off the pummel with ease. She raised her sword high. She let out a scream of rage that she buried over the years. Her legs kicked him in the head. The impact knocked him down with ease. Lydia walked on top of him. She leveled her sword over his face. Her breathing became hard, mist appearing. “I don’t want to kill anyone, Leo. I...beat you fair and square. Leave the Byrians alone. Go back home and do something else with your life. Your civilization has great power...use it aside for destruction.”

Leo glared. “You think you’ve one. I’ll simply crush you here and now. The Crog Emperium will never listen to the likes of you.” He reached for her only to find himself stuck in a bubble. “By Kraam!”

Alon sighed. “I was afraid this would happen.” With a huff, he blew out more bubbles. They all flew out and encased the Crogs. Sagittarius was spared from it, holding Brinnia. He flew up to the sky. He glared at them. “Now go home and think about what you did.” He gathered the bubbles up and threw them in the sky. Almost on cue, it began to rain down. Alon looked at the dirty river. “Best fix this too.” He hovered over to it. He touched it gently. The river quickly turned bright blue. The sludge was completely gone.

Everyone stared in pure awe. It was a miracle. A miracle the planet has long awaited for. They all cheered. Ishtar plowed through the ice and ran over to Lydia. “Mistress!” She shrunk down to her smaller size. Her impact nearly tipped Lydia over. “You did so wonderful! You held that sword as if you were a fighter all your life!”

Lydia blushed. “W-well...I wouldn’t say that. It was just pure luck.” Just as Akka and Eva were coming over, she noticed Alon flying over to a different direction. She ran past her friends and found herself next to Sagittarius. Her eyes took in a shocking sight. Sagittarius was holding Brinnia tightly in his arms. Tears in his eyes. That’s the first time I’ve actually seen a Crog cry. “Sagittarius?”

Sagittarius gazed at her. “All my life...I never found anything outside the Crog Emperium. I thought it was a way of life. A grand scheme to worship. Keep your head down...Crawl your way to the top...But...upon coming to other planets…” He tried to choke back a sob as he began to notice the Brinnia’s skin becoming worse. “She...gave me the chance to think for myself. She listened to my ideas. But now…” The tears rolled out into thick rivers.

A small, icy mist surrounded the group. The black patches on the skin glazed over, resembling patches over the night sky. Brinnia’s breathing eased. Her eyes briefly opened. She placed a cold hand on Sagittarius’ face. “Sagi...I’m glad...You’re ok…” She went back to sleep.

“This...is the best I can do.” Alon spoke. His breathing became heavy. His eyes began to droop. He glanced at Lydia. “Miss...I’m tired. I’ll come again...When I’m ready.” His body began to glow, turning back to the stone he was carved from. It returned back to Lydia’s hand.

“Miss Lydia…” Sagittarius looked up at her. He gently set Brinnia down. “I know my kind did terrible things! However…” His ears raised slightly. Eyes narrowed. “I would like to join this small crew. For vengeance!”

Chapter Text

Brinnia laid in the bed. Her breath was steady, but she had yet to wake up. Lydia watched over her. A blanket draped over her. Her body was warming up after her battle with Leo. The Alon’s blue stone cradled in her lap while Ishtar was curled up by her feet. She was told to take a rest. Well...I do feel tired. She admitted to herself. But it’s Sagittarius I’m worried about. Lydia thought back to the distraught Crog.
He had poured his work into the ship. Barely saying a word to anyone. He would modify broken farm tools and engines from time to time, but he usually kept his distance. Rush, Eva and Akka were shocked with what Lydia had said of letting Sagittarius join them. However, it seemed to keep him out of trouble. Not only that, but it seemed ideal to just join him considering the state he was in.

Lydia nearly jumped as she felt Eva’s hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see her and Rush at her side. “Oh...How’s the state of the ship?”

“Doing good…” Eva said. She messed with her hair slightly. “Sagittarius found what caused us to crash.” She pulled out a strange piece of melted metal. The face was hard to make out but it looked as if there used to be a digital clock. “Someone had put an explosive in the ship when no one’s looking.”

“Blow up the ship?!” Lydia gasped. “Surely you don’t think the president would…”

Eva shook her head. “Not likely. He’s crazy, but I’m sure he’s not that stupid.”

“But who would gain from sending you to the Crogs?” Rush asked.

“I don’t know…” Lydia admitted. “All I know is that whoever did it must’ve wanted to kill us or the Crogs.” She adjusted her glasses nervously. “Or both…”

“How’s Brinnia?” Eva asked.

“Same as she was last time.”

Rush sighed. “Alon couldn’t heal her fully? He was able to bring rain and fix our rivers, but can’t remove her poison.”

Lydia fiddled with her hair. She could feel an ache on the sides of her skull. If only Mercu were here, she thought. It would make things so much easier. “I still need to learn more about the stones….If I can find someone like Mercu it might give us a clue.”

“But we don’t even know where to look.” Eva stated.

Akka stepped into the room. He cleared his throat. All eyes were immediately on the prince. “The ship is fully repaired. It’s time to go.” He turned his attention to Lydia. “Are you sure it’s a good idea of bringing Saggitarius along? You know what will happen if the president of the Earth Coalition will react if he sees him.”

Lydia took a deep breath. “As much as the idea of a Crog being on a ship with us is scary...I know what he’s going through. Watching someone you care about getting very ill and possibly....” She cupped her mouth. Dreading the words she wished to speak.

“I guess we’ll have to be careful.” Rush said.
Akka, Eva and Lydia all looked up in surprise. “You’re coming with us?” Eva asked.

Rush hugged them. “Of course! You’ve done a lot on your own so far, but whoever is trying to kill you is still out there.” He gave a big grin. “You’re going to need a lot of muscle for this.”

Lydia smiled. “Thank you, Rush. I’m sure Brinnia would appreciate this. But...Can you try not to fight Sagittarius?”

Rush grunted. “Hmph! I can’t make any promises!” He picked up his chainsaw pickaxe and walked out of the door. “Better hurry and get over there before he causes trouble.”

Sometime later, everyone soon arrived at the ship. Lydia gazed in amazement as all the Bryians came to say goodbye. She waved on as they cheered at her. Her cheeks took on a deep red color. I’ve never been this popular before, she thought. Might not happen again. As they ascended into the air, she held on to Ishtar and her bag. I hope I have enough time to find the orange stone before anything bad happens… Her heart hammered as she went into the ship. She mentally prayed that it wouldn’t fall apart as they went through the atmosphere.

To everyone’s relief, it remained to stay together. Even the fuel Sagittarius made was enough to get them to the next planet. An awkward silence hung in the control station. Eyes darting from one person to the next. All expressions are grim. The only things that could distract the strange crew were the beeps and rattles that went throughout the ship and G’dar making a few noises.

Lydia began to pull out the last stone she had yet to carve. The purple stone was light. Air currents seem to pulse underneath her skin. She closed her eyes. She tried to get an image. The three stones seem to represent an element based on color, Lydia thought. Blue for water, green for earth… An image slowly began to form in her mind. Guess the purple stone is to represent the sky. So of course I’m going to carve a bird. Her hand began to move with ease. Curves and edges began to take shape. But what kind? Eagle and Hawks are just overrated. Instead of a bird of prey...A Hummingbird? The beak began to elongate and the body began to become dainty. A strange presence soon sat at her hand. Begging for a name.

“Interesting…”

Lydia nearly jumped. She opened her eyes to see Sagittarius loom over her. His golden eyes fixated on the stones. His shadow nearly covered her. Ishtar was on her lap, eying the Crog warily. Rush was behind him. The Byrian glared through his goggles. Thick lips forming a thin line.

“So that is how...Ishtar, is it? Came alive?” Sagittarius’ ears twitched with intrigue.

Lydia went slightly pink with embarrassment. “Well...Yes...Kinda...I don’t really know…”
“But...You managed to take down Leo.”

“Only by luck and Alon.” Lydia fiddled with the stone.

Eva put a hand on Lydia’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Lydia. I’m sure you’ll get it down in no time.”

“Thanks.” Lydia turned to Sagittarius. “What I do know is that I focus on an image and let my hand carve that shape. Then, I have to give them a name.”

“What are you going to name that one?” Rush asked.

“I don’t know yet.” She put the stone creature away in her bag.

Eva began pulling up the map on the monitor. “Let’s see where to go next.” She began to look over each planet. Their ship is a small blob in the map. She smiled as she saw the closest planet. “Next up is Phils.”

“That’s good.” Lydia said. She smiled as well. “This would be a good time to patch things up with Spirit.”

Eva smiled. “Yeah. Though...I hope it won’t be awkward.”

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine.” Lydia smiled. “After all, this is coming from the queen of awkward.” She got up from her seat. “I have to get to work before the president chews our ears off.” She cringed as that image crept into her mind. Then, the mere concept of having to explain why Sagittarius is on board. “Gotta go, bye.” With that, she left. Ishtar ran behind her. Once she made it to her room, Lydia collapsed on her bed. Her breath went back to normal as if she held it the entire way to her room. She went over to the book and started to try translating.

Each word was a bit tricky. Gruff and harsh. The pronunciations hurting her throat. However, some of the lighter ones felt familiar. As if she heard those words before. Lydia wrote down each word and what they could mean. Forming sentences to make sure they made some sense. Her thoughts lost in the bright pictures that danced in the presence of the Crog language. Her fingers tracing the female figure with admiration. Beautiful. Confident. Lydia soon began to droop. Her eyes grew heavy. An itching sensation crawled all over her as she laid down. Tired, she changed out of her travel clothes and into her pajamas. Once she was under the sheets with Ishtar curled up next to her, Lydia was asleep in minutes.

She found herself in a forest. The plants were glowing. Small bulbs attached to each leaf and petal. The night air was a greenish-blue color. Sounds of bugs and frogs entered her ears. Lydia kept walking until she saw a black shadow stand before her. It was simple red clothing with gold trimming. It glared at her fiercely. Lydia tried to say something but no words came out of her mouth. She began to run after it. Faster and faster. An energy began clicking in her soul. A wild and feral sensation in her blood. She jumped onto the creature.

“Unhand me!” The shadow commanded.

Lydia jolted upward. She took a deep breath. She looked to see Ishtar curled up next to her. She sighed. Her knees pulled up to her stomach. She shivered. What was that, Lydia thought. Who was that? Why does he remind me of- Her thoughts went back to Prince Scorpio. His silhouette against the light of the candle. His calming voice. She blushed until her entire face was red.

“Miss? Are you ok?”

Lydia turned to Alon. She sighed. The seahorse managed to gain enough strength to be the size when he first appeared. Her arms wrapped around him. “I’m fine. I just….had a dream...it was so vivid that it felt like a memory.”

“Who’s the stranger with the lightning bolt ears?”

Lydia went red again. “Oh! He’s someone I met in a...private library….”

“What?!”

Lydia jumped. She nearly fell out of her bed. Her heart hammered. She looked to see Saggitarius look at her with shock. His golden eyes widened with shock. Eva behind him with an angered Rush close to her.

“You’ve met Prince Scorpio in his secret room?!” Sagittarius gasped.

“Prince Scorpio?” Lydia tilted her head.

Akka glanced at her. A grimace on his face. “I’ve heard he is the estranged son of the Crog Emperor. He specializes in combat and is notoriously smart.”

“Not only that, but rumor has it that he had a secret library in the castle,” Sagittarius added.

“I’ve been to that library!” Lydia’s memory flashed to the books that she encountered.

“Then that means he’ll hunt you down no matter what.”

Lydia went pale. Her lips turned inward. Her eyes widened. “B-b-b-but why?! I didn’t steal any of his books!”

“I don’t know too many of those details, but I’ve heard the last Crog to steal something from the prince was severely punished.”
Lydia felt her body give a fierce jolt. Her head ached. Her lower body increased with pressure. She curled herself up into a ball until the pain subsided. Why do I get into these situations?!

Chapter Text

The group arrived on a planet that seemed to be a little bigger than earth. The sky was pale grey. The landscape was bare with a few grasses. However the building took on a less menacing look. They were simple rock formations with a few holes burrowed into them. Canyons yawned beneath the ship. Black shapes flew into the gentle gales.

“Wow!” Lydia’s eyes lit up at the sight below. She was now out of her pajamas and wearing a white blouse with a pale blue skirt. A long braid was set to maintain her long hair. Her bag strapped around her shoulder. The purple hummingbird nestled away.

Eva glanced around the landscape. “I’ve never seen anything this incredible since Oban.” Her eyes still scanned for any buildings. Then, she pointed to what looked like a large formation that resembled a castle. “Do you think that’s a city capital?”

“Only one way to find out,” Rush said.

As the ship neared the area, black shapes fluttered around them. Circling. Diving. Almost as if they were putting on a show. Suddenly, the front of the window went black. A white, mask-like face soon appeared before them. Earning a screech from Lydia and Alon. The eyes widened at the sight of Eva. Then, it vanished.

Ishtar froze. “Wheeeeereee did it go?”

Eva’s eyes widened in realization. “I know that Phils.” She whirled around as the back door was bust open. A lone Phil stood before them. A saddened look on his face. “Spirit!” Without thinking, Eva ran up and hugged him.

Lydia’s jaw dropped to the floor. “Not...What I had in mind, but...ok….” She nervously walked up to them. She gave an awkward wave. “Hello, Spirit. My name’s Lydia. I’m one of the ambassadors for Earth. I believe you’re the ambassador for the Phils?” Her face turned red when she was met with silence. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to be rude. It’s my first time seeing a Phils, let alone a whole planet. It’s just really nice to meet you.” She looked at Eva. “I-If you must know she’s not really mad at you.”

Sagittarius tilted his head. “Mad? About what exactly?”

Eva looked at Spirit. A saddened look in her eyes. “I’m sorry.” She didn’t flinch away as she felt Spirit’s large hand touch her head. A bright light surrounded her. In a matter of minutes, she was hugged by the large alien again. This time, tears sprung in both of their eyes.

Lydia found herself crying as well. She looked to see Sagittarius confused. Then, Lydia nearly jumped when Spirit let go of his embrace and walked up to Sagittarius. Without warning, Spirit touched the Crog. It was over before it began. Sagittarius began to cry. Tears falling down his face.

Spirit turned his attention to Lydia. He looked at her up and down. He knelt down to have a better look. His hand soon patted her head. His eyes glowed bright. He held out his hand toward her. Lydia took it. A confident smile on her face. Then, she began to do a few hand gestures. Everyone gasped when Spirit responded.

“What was that?” Aikka asked.

Lydia beamed. She adjusted her glasses. “That my friend was actually American Sign Language. Also known as ASL. I’m currently working on learning the USL extension.”

“Extension?” Eva tilted her head. “You mean beyond the stuff we know.”

Lydia nodded. Her mind began to expand. Her eyes glowed. “There are some races out in space that may not be able to perform them because they lack tentacles or other parts. The embassy on earth has been trying to figure that out for months.”

“Then I guess we should start learning that once we’re done with this…” Rush pointed behind him. Two other Philians stood tall. “Planet Phils business.”
At that moment, the ship soon arrived at the capital of the Phils. The castle had a special landing pad which made it easier to land. Lydia was by Spirit’s side. Exchanging every detail in sign language. Lydia’s eyes grew brighter as she continued showing her skills. Even Alon was at ease of the other aliens staring at him. Istar walked close as if to proudly display her tusks. Aikka simply smiled and waved. Eva laughed.

“It seems someone’s having a good time!” Eva grinned from ear to ear. It was great seeing Lydia being a bit calmer now. She was a bit worried for Lydia when the alien interpreter started to shrink at the idea of meeting Scorpio again.

Aikka turned to her. A serious look on his face. “It would depend how long that will last. Prince Scorpio might be hunting us down as we speak.”

Rush leaned over. “Let’s not jinx it.” He whispered. “Lydia’s got enough on her plate as it is. Plus, we need to keep an eye on Sagittarius.” He pointed to the Crog. The black alien’s eyes were still wet with tears but he showed some improvement. Rush straightened up and marveled at the large doors that stood before the group. Metal with large birds carved into it.

“Intriguing…” Sagittarius spoke. He put a hand on the door. “There are no knobs here.” He applied pressure. “It seems to be held in place by strong gravity or-” He fell as the doors swung open. “Have psychic activation…” He quickly got off the floor. He bowed to the throne.
The throne was made of simple rock. Arches smoothed to take on a crane-like appearance. Sitting in the middle was a Philian that was larger than the rest. Simple jewel hung off her head. Earrings glinting in the light. A crown sat on his head. The pale green eyes staring emotionless at them.

Spirit walked over to the larger Phil. He bowed and turned to them. He began to make a few gestures. When he stopped he nodded to Lydia.

Lydia flushed. “Oh! Right.” She cleared her throat. “Ambassador Spirit said that this is their leader, Queen Phantom. She wanted an audience with us when she saw our ship.” Her grey eyes watched as another exchange was being made between Spirit and Phantom. Spirit gestured to her. “The Queen wonders what our business is.” Lydia began to pull a few gestures. “We’re here because humans have been missing from several colonies. We’re simply investigating to prevent any destruction between alliances.”

Eva leaned in as the Queen began to gesture. “What is she saying?”

Lydia spoke as Spirit pulled the gestures. “I appreciate the concerns of Earth considering that incident on the Earth’s Grand Prix.” Lydia flinched before she continued. “We've encountered the same problem. There was a human outpost earlier. We went to investigate.” Lydia tried to hold back a shriek as one of the servants presented a damaged helmet with the symbol of the Earth Coalition on it. “This is all we found.”

“What happened?” Eva walked over to the helmet. She took in the dents. A chill ran through her body as she saw a large claw mark in the metal. “What could’ve done this?”

Aikka leaned over to have a better look. His blood chilled at the sight. “I’m familiar with Crog brutality, but they wouldn’t but any damage like this.”

Sagittarius flicked his ears. “Wait…Don’t human helmets have recording devices?”

Lydia perked up. “Yes! They do have logs stored in the helmet.” She ran her fingers along the design. She fiddled with a small compartment that cradled the ear. Her thin fingers found a small chip. “I hope it still works.” Lydia looked at the rest of them. “There’s a recording ma-ack!” Her words were cut off as a dark shape sped past her and knocked her over.

A Philian instantly took shape. A few scratches appeared on the arm. It began to perform several frantic gestures. Eyes wide with fear. Whatever was said, made the queen and Spirit stiffened.

Lydia moved forward. “Spirit, what’s wrong?!” She moved forward only to feel a strong pain in her head. A noise. Faint, but animal-like. It was heading this way. Lydia turned her head frantically. “Eva! We need to get out of this spot! Now!”

Eva looked puzzled. Before she could ask a question, Rush grabbed her. Sagittarius snatched Aikka. The two giants knocked the youngsters down as the wall suddenly exploded. Clouds of dust and debris clattered along the ground. Coughs rang in the air. Eva adjusted her goggles. “Is everyone alright?”

“A little rattled, but ok.” Lydia answered. She suddenly realized that her bag was missing. She frantically looked around and saw it lying a few feet away from her. Lydia made a grab for the broken strap. Thundering footsteps froze her in place. A sickening feeling in her heart, she slowly looked up. In front of her was a large creature. Humanoid with thick spikes jutting out of its back in the same fashion as a porcupine. Skin red as rose. Black eyes glared at her.

“Lydia…”Aikka whispered. “No. Sudden. Moves.”

Ishtar and Alon immediately got between Lydia and the monster. Ishtar was glowing but Alon stopped her. “If we change, we might crush everyone! The space is way too small!”

Ishtar snorted. “Then what do you suggest, genius?! We’re going to need a distraction!”

Rush rose from the rubble. He put Aikka back onto his feet. The Byrian took a breath moment to wipe the dust off his goggles until he was able to see. He lifted his pickaxe and aimed it at the creature. His large feet covered the distance. “One distraction coming up!” He swung hard. His weapon hit the skin. The monster roared.

Suddenly, the quills of the back flared out. They flew out with a high-pitched whine. Dotting the halls with spikes. Everyone tried to take cover, but Ishtar and Alon moved quickly and grew. The two large animals pushed their opponent out into the hallway. While Rush fell to the floor, clutching his arm.

“Rush!” Lydia yelled. “Are you ok?”

Rush grunted. As he slowly got up, blood leaked from his fingers. “I’m fine. Just a few scratches.”

Lydia was about to move forward when she suddenly heard something. A hissing noise. She followed the sound closely then froze at the source. Slithering up toward the queen and Spirit was another humanoid creature with quills like the first but snake-like fangs. With a raised arm, it lunged at her. Before she could stop herself, Lydia ran over to the two Philians. “Look out!!” A scream rang out through the room.

Eva whirled around. She gasped. Lying on the floor, barely conscious, was Lydia. One hand on her abdomen. The other hand out reached for the fallen bird. Eva ran over to her fallen friend. Spirit and the Queen followed Eva with shock and fear in their eyes. They ignored the roars, Aikka’s chants and hisses that filled the room. All eyes were on Lydia.

Eva knelt down and picked her up gently. “Lydia? Lydia, can you hear me?!” Eva moved Lydia’s hand from her stomach. Her face paled at the deep gash. She needs care, Eva thought. “Oh Lydia, why did you do that?”

Lydia gave a weak smile. “I…didn’t want the Queen to die…I’ve just started to know her…” She coughed briefly. Suddenly, a gust of wind turned her attention. Her grey eyes turned to the whole in the wall. Her lips thinned as she saw a Crog Trident before her. It was red but had silver trimming. Crog inscription on the blades. Even in her weakened state, she knew who it belonged to. Sagittarius wasn’t kidding… She thought. Scorpio will hunt me down. Would he want to kill everyone here? She looked at her hummingbird. Still in good shape. With an ounce of her strength, she got up and reached for her creation. The cool surface balances out the heat that overwhelmed her. She felt Eva’s hands on her.

“Lydia no!” Eva screamed. “You’re hurt! You shouldn’t-” She stopped as Lydia made a feeble attempt to brush off her hand.

“S-Scorpio…He’ll hurt all of you…Must face him…while still time…” Lydia slowly got to her feet. Ignoring the pain in her body. Her breathing grew hard. Her grip tightened around the hummingbird. She turned to Eva. “M-my mission is to all of you as m-much as to Earth. If Scorpio kills me…Please…Take care of Ishtar and Alon for me.” She wobbled forward. Her eyes fell on Spirit. “Mr. Spirit…Would you help me get over there?” Lydia pointed to the spot where the ship would be.

Spirit was silent for a moment. He flexed his hands. His fingers shook. His gaze turned to Eva, his queen, then to Lydia. Flapping of the palace guards roared around them. His mind slowly goes back to Maya’s tragic fate. Tears rolled his eyes. He knelt down and held up Lydia as gently as he could. He used every ounce of his strength to make sure the pale human didn’t fall. His heart thundered as they got close to the machine.

Once they reached the spot, a bellow was heard. Ishtar was now her original size. Her tusks slamming into the spike monster. Alon cautiously changed his size to fight off the serpent-like creature. Ice spike darting the nearest wall. Lydia simply looked at Spirit. Thank you, She mouthed. Lydia adjusted her glasses the best she could. She took a deep breath. Lydia lifted her arms. She flinched. “Prince Scorpio!” She yelled. “I know why you’re here! Take me if you want, but leave my friends alone! I’m not sorry for what I did back at the palace. Your kind had done nothing but take things from others through force and deceit! If you wish to prove me wrong, then take me and leave everyone alone!”

Eva got onto her feet. She ran over but Spirit stopped her. Her whole body was hidden by the large alien. She struggled. “NO! Let me go! I have to help her!” She was only embraced tighter. The strange comfort crawled over her. Suddenly, she heard Lydia cry “Symphony!”
—----------------------------(Scorpio Pov)------------------------------------------------------
I finally found her. The stone had been glowing for the past couple of days. I had to change my route a few times but finally pinpointed their location. Just as I was about to head to the planet Phils, I received a call from my father. I pushed a button. Instantly, he appeared on the screen. “Hello, father. What news do you have for me?”

“I’m sending in Leo on the search.” He said with his usual soured tone. His yellow eyes held the usual glare.

I groaned. My fingers rubbed my temples hard. He and I barely got along. Let alone tolerate each other. However, the only reason we ever had been this close is because… “Why in Kraam would my little cousin join me? You know how he hates me and will do just about anything to win. Honestly…His childish games are getting old.”

“He had an encounter with the human you’re seeking…and lost.”

My ears twitched. So, she was able to take on the battle hungry general Leo? “Did she use the same creature back at the palace?”

“No, Leo describes it as being blue and resembling a sea serpent.”

Interesting, I thought. So she does have more than two stones. I wonder what they really do. “Well, let see if he’ll catch her before I do. Farewell father.” I ended communications before he uttered another word. The engines roared to life. Hyperdrive activated. In a matter of minutes, I soon reached the planet Phils. It was a little bigger than earth. The sky taking on a lavender hue. Clouds thick as armor as I went down. For some strange reason, my heart thundered. My mind still thinking about that strange human. Her hair black as Crog skin. Glasses perched on her nose. I touched my chest. It had always been strange since the day I was kidnapped. Whenever I was excited, my heart pulsed wildly. Like a fire existed in my body.

A brief flash came to my mind. The white teeth. Someone holding my hand. The warmth. Beautiful tears running down soft cheeks. Pleas of help and hold on. A white dress. Why? Why is it happening now after all these years? I lowered my ship, breathing as slowly as possible. I soon saw the palace. That must be where she is, I thought. After all, she was bold enough to go near a Crog palace. What’s stopping her from coming here?

A faint boom reached my ears. Large clouds billowed out of the palace. I followed it without hesitation. I soon found myself in pure madness. Philian guards flapping and twirling against some crazed bird-like creatures with humanoid faces. I barely dodged. Using my lasers to defeat them. Finally, I saw a large hole. More chaos ensued by two large monsters fighting Prince Aikka, a large Byrian, the green creature known as Ishtar and a strange blue beast that matched father’s description. To my surprise, I saw a Crog grunt among them. “What in Kramm?” Then, my eyes laid on her. The human. The long-haired, bespeckled human that dared to humiliate the Crog Imperium.

“Prince Scorpio!”

I turned my attention to the human girl once again. My blood ran cold at what I saw. Long gashes on her side. Arms stretched out in a feeble attempt to shield the ones she cares about.

“I know why you’re here!” She said, trying to make her voice heard over the noise. “Take me if you want, but leave my friends alone! I’m not sorry for what I did back at the palace. Your kind had done nothing but take things from others through force and deceit! If you wish to prove me wrong, then take me and leave everyone alone!”

A bold statement. For someone so small. Suddenly, a flash of memory sprang before my eyes. A frightened, scared girl begging to have my life to be spared. Her stance…was similar to hers. What is wrong with me, I thought with dismay.To my horror, the girl leaned forward and fell off the ledge. A flash of lavender light blinded me. I lifted my hand to shield my eyes. My ship suddenly spun, causing the alarms to blare fiercely. Before I knew it, a large bird hovered in the sky. In its claws was the girl.
—------------(Normal POV)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lydia’s body screamed. Wind whipping her hair. Her hands felt a rough surface. Once her vision focused, Lydia looked up. A vision of purple and lavender hovered above her. A hum surrounded her. A hummingbird's face soon stared at her. “I am Symphony. Hello, Lady Lydia. How may I serve you?”

Lydia blinked. Her mind blurred. Then, she cleared her throat. “Me and my friends are in danger…Monsters….” Lydia tried her best to point at them. Then she pointed at Prince Scorpio’s ship. “Get him as far away from here as possible.”

“Understood.” The pale green eyes glowed. Taking in each scene of destruction. “Targets acquired.” She tossed Lydia into the air. Her body resumed its original formation as Lydia landed on her back. Owning a groan. “Hold on and cover your ears too.”

“Do I have a choice-Wait-What?!” Lydia held on as the winds rushed around her. The world spinned. She could briefly see bird monsters knocked away with ease. Feathers turned into arrows around her. Suddenly, she abruptly reached the castle. Symphony took in a deep breath. A screech soon followed. Lydia covered her one ear. She screamed as the pain in her body intensified. Then, her world began to fade to black.
Lydia suddenly got up. A forest covered in soft shades of blues and greens surrounded her. She heard crying further in front. A soft sniffle. Who’s that? Lydia moved forward. Her feet began to take a hypnotic rhythm as she walked further. The sobbing got louder. Before long, she came across a small, black shape looming over a small pond. “Hello? Are you ok?” Lydia knelt down. Her hand was mere inches from the shape when she noticed her hand was small. She looked down. Instead of wearing the outfit she had on in Phils, she wore a purple nightgown with silver puppies on it. A hard hand grabbed her. Her eyes soon met with the shadowy figure.

“Don’t touch me!” The figure was the same age as her. Pointed ears arched in fury. Yellow eyes narrowed. It was none other than a Crog!

“Lydia!”

“Miss Lydia!”

“Mistress!”

Lydia found herself on a cold floor. However, her hand desperately clung to the dream for dear life. Something about that touch comforted her. She wanted it to hold on to it longer. Her breathing evened out. The pain she felt was gone. Her vision cleared to see Eva, Ishtar, Alon and Symphony looming over her.

Eva smiled. “Lydia! Thank goodness you’re ok.” Her small form was soon covered by Aikka, Spirit, Rush and Sagittarius as they loomed over her. She tried to help Lydia sit up. Her hand on the back while the other pulled her up.

“W-where’s the Crog child?” Lydia’s mouth felt dry. Every word is raspy and weak.

“Crog child?” Aikka raised a brow. Even Sagittarius’ ears went up in shock.

“Uh oh!” Ishtar turned to Alon. Both of them and Symphony were now smaller than their original state. “Alon, I don’t think you’ve healed Mistress completely….She seems to have a few stones loose.”

“No I didn’t!” Alon argued. “She must still be dehydrated!”

“No…” Lydia protested. “I had a vision…” She rubbed her head. Her rear felt strange. As if it were tied to something. Then, she noticed a set of strange grey furs surrounding her. “Where did you guys get these?” Lydia placed a hand on the fur. It instantly twitched. She shivered at the sensation. She blinked. Lydia touched it again. Same reaction. “D-d-did I just grow a tail?”

“Nine actually, Lady Lydia,” Symphony spoke. The bird was smaller now. The feathers took on a lighter shade of purple.

Rush pulled out his blade. “Uh…I’m afraid that wasn’t the only thing you grew.” He brought the reflective surface closer to her.

Lydia gasped in shock. Her once black hair was now grey as the tails. On top of that, her head now produced a second pair of ears. Fox ears. They twitched on command. Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened wide. Before long, a scream soon followed that could’ve been heard halfway across the galaxy. “AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!”

Chapter Text

Lydia sat in her bed chambers. After the incident with the human-like monsters, the Philian queen allowed the crew to rest in the guest chambers once everything was settled. Her eyes focused on the nine fox tails that curled around her. Each of them seemed to have a mind of their own each time she tried to touch them. She shivered. Some tails would twitch. Others would grab something and drop it on the floor. Lydia sighed. Ishtar and Alon snuggled into her tails. Symphony simply perched. “How could’ve this happened?”

Suddenly, a knock on the door broke whatever thoughts she had. Her fox ears stood on end. Gray fur puffed out. She listened to whom it may be. “Lydia? It’s Eva and Aikka, can we come in?”

Lydia took a deep breath. Her fur slowly turned back to normal. “Yeah…Come in.”

Aikka and Eva walked in. Eva was already wearing her night garments while Aikka was in his formal wear. Eva sat on the edge of the bed. She giggled as Ishtar ran up to her and curled up on her lap. Her brown eyes looked at Lydia with concern. “Are you ok? How are you feeling with those tails?”

Lydia sighed. “Out of all the weird things I have to deal with while in space…” She pointed at her tails. “This is the strangest so far…”

“How’s your back?” Aikka asked.

Lydia rolled her back. No amount of pain rolled. Just a weird sensation on her butt. “It’s good, but my tails are hard to work with. They…” She tried to grab one of them just as it was about to grab Eva’s goggles. “Have a mind of their own.”

Eva helped tame some of the tails. She giggled as they tickled her face. “You’ll get the hang of it. I’m sure. Just take one day at a time.”

“I think the bigger concern would be how to break this to your father, Eva.”

Eva cringed. “Oh…Right…We still need to figure out…” She looked at Eva’s ears and tails. “This to him…”

Lydia gulped. She had completely forgotten that now her ears and tails were out, she had to explain them to Don Wei and the president. “W-what do I do?!”

Aikka thought for a moment. “For now, it would be best to rest. You’re already taking too much in as it is. Until we find out what caused this, it would be best to grow accustomed to their presence.” Eva got up from her spot and simply waved “Good night”. The two left the room. Gently closing the door behind them.

Lydia sighed. She took off her glasses to rub her nose. Her eyes focused on the ceiling as she laid down. Her tails laid on the bed. Limp and unfeeling. Ishtar, Alon and Symphony nestled up next to her head. Lydia closed her eyes. For a while, it was hard for her to fall asleep. The tails gave a weird sensation on her back. She rolled and then thought about Scorpio. The Crog being in the library. Reading the book that she was still trying to translate. For some reason, it gave her comfort and made her fall asleep. Dreams of the young Crog were back. Followed by Mercu holding her close and telling her how her tails were so cute. By morning, the dream faded.

Everyone gathered at a banquet hall. The table served what looked like a bowl of soup. Queen Phantom sat at the head with Spirit sitting right beside her. Eva, Aikka, Sagittarius and Rush were able to sit on their high chairs with ease. Lydia struggled with hers. She clawed her way up. Tails flailing about. When she was able to get there, Lydia soon found the challenge of sitting down. She shivered and shifted as a strange sensation ran up her back.

Eva poked her food with her spoon. Curious, she took a sample. Her eyes brightened. The liquid felt smooth in her mouth. The sweet and salty flavors tickled her tongue. She smiled and began to dig into her meal. Eva gazed at the queen. “Thank you for allowing us to stay the night, your majesty.”

Queen Phantom bowed her head. She even pulled a few gestures. Her eyes held a light. One filled with happiness. Then, temporarily changed to sorrow.

“What did she say?” Rush asked.

Lydia fussed with her tails. One of them made a grab for the spoon. She grabbed it quickly. “Uhhh…Sorry. Still learning how to work these tails. Anyway, the queen said that she wanted to thank us for helping her with the creatures yesterday. If only the circumstances weren’t so bad.” Her fox ears drooped at the last sentence.

“It can’t be helped.” Aikka spoke. He took a spoonful before speaking. “It seems our mysterious adversary has sent them before we arrived.”

Lydia tilted her head. Her glasses nearly slid off her face. Istar, Alon and Symphony simply mess with her tails while snagging some of her soup. “Why’s that?”

Sagittarius rummaged through his bag that he had with him. With ease, he pulled out a strange symbol. It resembled a black nine-tailed fox with a skull in its jaws. “This was found on one of those dead creatures.” He put it away. Then, he pulled out a strange device that resembled a bit of a boombox. “I listened to the recording last night. Brace yourself.” He pressed a button.

At first the room was filled with static. Over time, the voice began to become clear. “Star log 4 9 2220. We’ve arrived at the Planet of the Phils. It’s rather quiet. The people here aren’t very chatty.” Spirit rolled his eyes in annoyance. Lydia simply face-palmed. “Our fellow colonizers have yet to come back…Wait..” A low hiss was faintly heard. “What’s-AAAAAAHHHHH!” Screams and shouts were soon heard. Guttural growls breaking into the scene. Lydia’s face paled. She immediately hugged Ishtar. Alon fled into her long hair. Symphony simply stared at the machine. Eva gulped hard. Aikka and Rush both stiffened. Spirit could only squeeze his hands together.

“H-how long ago was that audio log?” Lydia asked.

“A few weeks.” Sagittarius answered.

“Around the time people had started to go missing…” Eva looked at her soup. Her skin began to crawl. It began to remind her of Canaletto. The monster who manipulated her life and killed her mother just so he could be Avatar again.

“We best head back to the ship and report this to your father,” Aikka said.

Eva sighed. She looked at Lydia. “Better get ready…”

Lydia gulped hard. Heart thundering in her head. She looked at Queen Phantom and gestured her thanks. With that, everyone left the table and went to the ship. Once inside, Lydia began to practice her lines. Her feet tapped away as she paced back and forth in the room. What she was going to say. Thinking about what questions she was going to be asked. Suddenly, she was lifted off the ground. She looked up to see Rush.

Rush gave her a kind gaze underneath his goggles. His smile held a small smile. “You’re going to bring a hole in the ship.”

Lydia flushed. Her ears lowered. Her tails had bristled fur, making her look larger than normal. “Sorry…I’m just nervous. The Crogs…The monsters…Now…This..I don’t know how much more I can take.”

Rush set her down. He gently patted her on the back. “Just take one thing at a time. Don’t worry. We’ll help you out.” He turned behind him to look at Sagittarius. “Not sure about him though…” He felt Lydia’s small hand on him.

“Go easy on him.” Lydia spoke. “I know it’s weird me saying it, but he’s still troubled with Brinnia being sick. It may not look like it, but I saw the lack of sleep on him.”

Rush tilted his head. Then he scratched his beard. “Come to think of it…He nearly fell out of his chair and almost bumped into a pillar. I thought he was out of it.”

“I know that you’re not going to forgive him or the other Crogs for what they did…I’m not sure about what’ll happen next but he trying to prove he’s different.”

Rush sighed. “I can’t promise anything, but I’ll try.” He hugged her. A beep in the room broke up the blissful moment. “Showtime. Yowch!” He cried as one of Lydia’s tails yanked on his beard.

Lydia went red. “Sorry…” She immediately snatched her tail and ran down the corridor. She saw Sagittarius hiding behind a curtain while Spirit simply sat in front of it. “Spirit? Aren’t you going to stay with the queen?”

Spirit gestured. His eyes were tender. I need to make things right with Eva…and her father…I could only do so much for them…Plus, my queen ordered me to join your crew.

“What?! Join us?!”

Eva turned to Lydia. Placing her headphones down. “Join us in this conversation?”

“No. Join our crew.”

Eva’s jaw dropped. “What?!” Before she could say anything else, the screen began to flash open. Her father’s image appeared before them. “Dad!”

Don Wei looked exhausted. Bags visible underneath his eyes. “Eva…It’s so good to hear from you again. I just had been so worried.” He turned his attention to Lydia. “Where did this alien come from?”

Lydia blushed. “Um…Mr. Wei…It’s me, Lydia.”

Don Wei blinked. He nearly fell backward from his chair. His eyes nearly popped out of his sockets. “What the-Lydia?! What happened?! How did you wind up like this?!” He then noticed Spirit on the screen. He stiffened. “What’s HE doing here?”

“Youch!”

Sagittarius cursed and struggled against the tugging of his ear by one of Lydia’s tails. He tumbled out, crushing a few objects on the floor. He rubbed his ear once she let go. The Crog huffed as he sat up. His yellow eyes caught Don Wei’s face on the screen. He glanced away in shame.

“CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT’S GOING ON???!!!”

Before long, everyone began explaining their piece of the story. Byrus. The Crog attack. Meeting Sagittarius. Brinnia’s mysterious illness. Don Wei stiffened about the recording and the poisoned suits. Alon and Symphony. Lydia’s transformation and the current plans. At that Don Wei crossed his arms. “You do know the big risk you’re taking by going to Nourasia, right? I’ve heard that your people still haven’t forgiven the Crogs about what happened back on Oban.”

Sagittarius got up. “I do realize that my people are wrong, sir. But I don’t want to do any more harm than is already delivered.” He simply looked at the ground. His hands tightened into fists. “I just want justice for Brinnia.”

Don Wei grew silent. His mind went back to Maya. His lips were tight. He sighed. “Does the President know?”

Lydia shook her head. “No sir. We didn’t tell him anything yet. But…” Her face turned red. Her ears drooped. “After your reaction…I don’t think he’ll take this very well.”

Don Wei leaned forward. “I’ll only tell him what your plan is and the attacks, but…Lydia, are you willing to trust this Crog?”

Lydia gulped. “I’m still a little nervous around him…but I know what it’s like to have someone so sick and being far away from them…I’m willing to give him a chance.”

Don Wei began to look away. Guilt written on his face. “Lydia…I know you’re going through a lot right now…But there’s something you should know.”

Lydia gulped. Her heart dreading where this was going. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“It’s about your mother. The police just called the office and said that she disappeared three nights ago from the hospital. They think she’s kidnapped.”

Lydia’s heart stopped beating. Her breathing began to hitch. Her gray eyes wide with dismay. She clutched at her human ears while her fox ones were pinned back. Nine tails thrashed violently. A wail resounded throughout the ship. Bright lights blinding everyone.
—----------------(Somewhere in space)------------------------------------------------------
Prince Scorpio was in darkness. The world around him was silent. Cold. He shivered, clutching his heart. Suddenly, he heard a wailing noise. Someone was crying. He followed the noise to a small girl in a nightdress wailing. A ring of fire surrounded her. “Hey…Hey!” The gray eyes landed on him. “What are you crying about?”

“My mommy’s gone!” The girl cried. A faint rim of light perched on her nose. “She disappeared! I don't know where to find her! I don’t know where she is! I want her! I want mommy!” She continued crying. The fire grew bigger and brighter. It soon began to take shape. A massive, lizard-like creature with porcupine quills along its back.

Scorpio woke up with a start. He clutched his heart hard. Pain radiating in his chest like a furnace His breath hitched. Ears flickered. “I must find answers.” He pulled out the orange stone from his suit. In a matter of moments, a dagger was in his other large hand. He glared at his reflection. “Now.”

Chapter Text

Lydia continued screaming her head off. Tears streaming from her eyes. Her body in a vibrant light. Everything shook. Eva, Rush and Sagittarius frantically grabbed her tails just to make sure she didn’t damage the equipment. Don Wei shielded his eyes from the glare. Ishtar and Alon took cover to a nearby seat to avoid getting hit. Aikka had to inch towards her as pressure hit him. Suddenly, Spirit and Symphony stepped in front of her. The little Hummingbird opened her little beak and sang a tune. The sweet song she sang began to ease Lydia. She sobbed, her tails going limp. Spirit helped her to her seat.

Don Wei sighed. “I didn’t expect this… I’m sorry Lydia, but I thought you’ve had the right to know.” He looked away. “I’ll keep you all posted on any developments that happen.” With that, the screen went blank.

Eva let out a long sigh. She looked at Lydia. The young woman fast asleep. She turned her glance to Aikka. “Want to help me put her to bed?” Eva stared in shock as Spirit simply lifted Lydia up and began walking away with her. “Hey wait!” She ran after the tall alien while the rest of them merely looked at Ishtar and Alon who emerged from their hiding spot. Aikka sighed as he heard his beetle roaring further in the ship.

It didn’t take long for Spirit to find Lydia’s room. He lowered his head to avoid hitting the doorway. Eva was close behind him. He set Lydia down gently. A blanket tossed onto her. He stroked her face and placed her glasses on the bedside table. He turned to look at Eva for a moment. Then, he changed his glance back to Lydia. His hands curled into fists.

“Poor Lydia…” Eva said. “She’s going through so much. I thought going to space would help, but it just made things worse.” She formed fists and shook them angrily. “I know how that feels. If only there was a way to help her.” She felt a small tap on her shoulder. She looked up to see Spirit looking at her with worried eyes. Eva gave a sad smile. “I forgive you. What happened wasn’t your fault. I think Lydia made the right call of bringing you along.” She was silent for a moment. Then, she walked away from the door. “Let’s allow her to sleep.”

Spirit looked at Lydia for a moment. Then, he saw several notes on the table. He was about to grab them when Lydia groaned. He backed away and left the room as well. Leaving Lydia in darkness.

Lydia was crying. She was surrounded by forest and shadow. “Mommy…” She whimpered. “Mommy…” Her tails thrashed out in distress.

“Hey…Hey! What are you crying about?”

Lydia looked up. It was the same Crog kid from before. “My mommy’s gone! She disappeared! I don't know where to find her! I don’t know where she is! I want her! I want mommy!” She cried and cried. Suddenly, the Crog kid got closer. He grabbed her arm. Lydia stopped crying for a moment. Confused. His hold was firm, but it felt warm and comforting.

Lydia’s eyes flung open as she sat up. Her breathing went heavy. Her tails curled around her. Tears began to stream in her eyes. She looked to see that her little friends had finally returned to her side. Lydia laid back down. Her thoughts stuck on the Crog. “I’ll find you…Please…Be real…Let me get to know you…Just once…”

Light leaked out of her room. She twitched her fox ears. Lydia pulled the covers away from her. She groaned. Her body longed for sleep. One glance of the book made her change her mind. Lydia got up and continued the translation. Little by little, the full translation was almost complete. Suddenly, she heard someone walking towards her room. The sounds of varying footsteps reached her ears. One heavy while the other was so light it seemed like a Ghost entered the room. Nervous, Lydia slowly got up from her spot and tip-toed over. She nearly jumped when the door slid open.

In the doorway stood Spirit and Sagittarius. Both of the tall aliens looked down at her with concern in their eyes. Spirit patted her head. Sagittarius knelt down. “How are you feeling, Lydia?” The Crog asked.

Lydia took a deep breath as the memories of what happened yesterday came slowly back into her mind. “Hollow…Helpless…” She began wiping her eyes as they began to form tears. “Why? Why do these things happen to me? Why would anyone kidnap my mom?” She looked at her tails. “Is it because of these things?”

Spirit gently patted the nearest tail. Then gestured. No. What happened to you is not because you have suddenly grown multiple tails and an additional pair of ears. If anything, this is a situation that’s beyond your control. Or ours to be exact. He paused for a moment before continuing. I used to have the same mindset when Eva lost her mother and I still struggle with that. Even after learning the truth of Canaletto. Don’t beat yourself up.
Lydia looked up at him. A small smile placed on her lips. “Thank you, Spirit…” She wiped her tears. Suddenly, her stomach growled. Her cheeks turned bright red. “Ah ha ha. Oops! I guess I need to eat.”

Sagittarius gave a small smile. “You’re in luck. We’ve just arrived in Nourasia.”

Lydia’s ears perked at the name. “Nourasia?! As in Prince Aikka’s homeland.” Her tails stiffened as a realization hit her. “Wait…Did his parents…see you?”

Sagittarius drooped his ears and then awkwardly nodded. “I figured I had to show myself before another dramatic reveal happened.”

Lydia blushed. “Sorry about that.”

“Not your fault. I can’t hide in the ship forever…” He looked away. “Plus it would help me get my mind off of things.”

Lydia nodded. With that, Lydia went over to the bed to see Ishtar, Alon and Symphony all awake. She rolled her eyes and scooped them up. She also took the time to put on her glasses. They giggled as they joined the tall aliens down the hallway. Lydia began to realize something. Her vision was blurry the moment that she put on her glasses. When Lydia removed them, her eyes felt lighter. As if someone came and cleaned her eyes. She also began to notice that her nose began to take in scents. Spices of some unknown cuisine. Sweet flowers. Her fox ears began to pick up G’dar roaring in the distance. Eva having a talk with Aikka. Rush singing a tune.

Once they reached the entrance of the ship, Lydia’s eyes stung. She grunted and took off her glasses. She blinked a few times until her vision became clear. The forest around them was multiple shades of dark green, pale yellow and dark blues. G’dar was in the far distance, flying through the treetops of the homeland. Then, she looked at Eva. Her friend was surprised at what she was seeing.

“Lydia…Your glasses…” Eva pointed to them in her hand. “Don’t you need them to see?”

Lydia glanced down at them. “Yeah, but it was hurting my eyes for some reason.” She rubbed her eyes. “That’s not the only weird thing though…I heard you guys on my way down here.” She pointed at Rush. “I even heard him softly singing. I smelled some strange spices too!” Her stomach growled. Her cheeks turned beet red at the sound.

Aikka laughed, but it came out slightly hollow. “I guess we should head to my castle.” He pointed to a path on their right. “It’s just a few steps ahead. You’ll be able to enter through the back entrance.”

Ishtar jumped out of Lydia’s arms. “Come on! Race you to the castle!” Alon and Symphony raced after her.

Lydia ran after them. “Guys wait! You can’t just barge unannounced. Wait!” Lydia tried to move fast but hit her foot on a root, causing her to trip and fall.

Aikka leaned next to Eva. “It’d be best to keep an eye on her,” He whispered.

“I know, but maybe we should be careful how we approach this. We don’t want to her feelings.” Eva crossed her arms. She closed her eyes and thought for a moment.

“Hey!!”

Eva broke her focus and looked up. Lydia was already ten feet from where they were. Lydia waved them over. “Come on! Let’s go! I would like to learn more about Nourasian culture!”

Eva laughed. A big grin on her face. “Ok! Just don’t race too far ahead! You better catch up to Ishtar! She’s at it again.” Her grin only got bigger as Lydia laughed and chased after them. Rush, Sagittarius and Spirit soon joined her. She turned to look at Aikka. “Let’s just do all that we can for her. We can figure out what she is later.”

Aikka sighed. “I just hope Lydia doesn’t have a panic attack. Things have already been hard enough as it is.” The duo soon walked toward the group. G’dar tailing them close behind.

Before long, the group arrived at a large castle. The stone was a mixture of white and yellow. It had simple shapes, but held a dignified appearance. Smooth arches had several Nourasian writing scrawled on it. The smells Lydia detected earlier were now getting stronger. Several Nourasian guards stood at their posts. Dressed in white and holding halberds in their hands. They jumped when Ishtar was about to plow through before Lydia finally caught up to her.

Lydia gave a shy grin. “I’m sooo sorry! She’s more excited than normal. Must’ve been a long flight over.” She blushed as the guards gave her strange looks. A mixture of fear and awe. “Diiid I say something wrong?” She tried again with the Nourasian language. Her heart nearly jumped as the guards gasped. She pulled her tail into her face. Oh no! I’ve already made a bad impression!

“I’ve never met anyone who tried to speak our language before.” One guard said.

“It was almost spot on. Even the politest I’ve heard in a long time.” The other said.

Lydia slowly unveiled herself. She was always used to the ridicule back on Earth about understanding Nourasian Language. However, she continued to study it. Going as far as remembering the pronunciation of each word. Even memorizing the spells that Aikka used during their time fighting. Lydia loved how each word was soft and delicate. Her cheeks turned even redder at that. “Um…Thank you…I wasn’t sure how to approach this. I’m sorry if I scared you.”

One of the guards smiled. “No, it’s quite alright. Prince Aikka gave a description of you, but we had a hard time imagining what you’d look like.”

Lydia gave a soft chuckle. “I know. I’m still figuring that out myself.” She joined in the laughter of the guards. Her anxiety melted away once again. Lydia turned around and saw Eva and the crew finally joining her. “Eva! Isn’t the castle grand?!”

Eva chuckled. “Yep! Sure is!”

Aikka had a big smile on his face. Upon seeing him, the guards bowed. Aikka bowed and Lydia followed his example. “Is the banquet ready?”

“Yes sire.” The guards moved away, revealing the entrance.

Aikka waved them over. Rush, Spirit and Sagittarius crouched down to make it easier to enter the doorway. The latter of the three was met by angry glares from the guards. As the group walked on, they found sunlight flooding every corner of the hallway. Vases and statues lined the hall. Flowers of white adding a gentle touch. Even Ishtar stayed close with the others to take in the view. After walking for a certain amount of time, the group finally arrived at the banquet hall.

The table was made of pure white marble with gray veins pulsing around. Plates of strange oranges and fish were already placed there. A flower vase sat in the center with large yellow petals flaring out before them. Sitting at the head were Aikka’s parents. The king and queen of Nourasia. Both had smiles on their faces upon seeing their son again.

“My son. It’s good to see you bringing company again.” His eyes turned cold upon seeing Sagittarius. “Sagittarius, is it? I do hope you’ve understood the rules while being here?”

Sagittarius fiddled with his fingers nervously. His ears drooped. “Y-yes sir. I do understand that I must stay in the castle or the ship. No contact with your subjects or do any physical harm whatsoever.” He bowed quickly. “Thank you for allowing me to come, your majesty.”

Lydia then noticed something in the queen’s arms. It was small and had a face similar to the mother’s. Lydia gasped. Her eyes sparkled at what she saw. “Is that a baby?” Before she could stop herself, her tails flung forward and took the little baby from the queen’s arms. The little Nourasian was now suspended by thick ropes of fur. Lydia gently swung the baby back and forth. “Awww! Aren’t you adorable?! Who’s a happy baby? Who’s a happy baby?” Her smile grew wide as the baby giggled and waved its little arms.

“Ummm….Mistress?” Ishtar spoke.

“Miss Lydia…Everyone’s staring…” Alon pointed out.

Lydia froze. She looked around. Facial expressions of shock and wonder plastered on everyone’s face. Realization of what she had done hit her. Her cheeks turned bright red. Her fur stood up. “Oh my gosh!” Her tails handed the baby back to the queen. She bowed profusely. “I’m so sorry! I forgot to ask! Forgive me! Ahhh!” She lost balance and fell over. She slowly got up. Nice going! Now they’re mad at you.

“So…You’re Lydia.” The king said. His voice made Lydia’s blood freeze in place.

“Yes…” She said in a tiny voice.

“My son wasn’t exaggerating when he stated that you’re somehow turned into a strange creature. I’ve heard stories about them. They were known to be called Kitsellus. A race with nine tails and ears like yours. Some believed that they had a close association to the Avatar and the elemental forms of magic.” He got up and walked up to Lydia. Then, he offered his hand. A small smile crossed his face. “It’s a pleasure to meet one who resided from Earth.”

Lydia stared up in surprise. She smiled, tears brimming around her eyes. She took the King’s hand. In one smooth motion, she shook it. “Apologies again, you majesties. It’s my first time seeing an actual alien baby.” Lydia turned to look at Rush. “Aside from Byrian toddlers.”

Rush smiled at that. Spirit’s eyes sparkled in amazement at Lydia’s improved state. Ishtar, Alon, Eva and Aikka all let out a sigh of relief. Symphony merely chirped a happy tune.

The queen waved off Lyida’s apologized. “It’s alright. We were planning to show her to the rest of Nourasia.” She lifted her giggling princess. “Besides, I think Narai enjoyed it. Didn’t you, little one?” The queen beamed upon hearing her baby’s laughter.

Lydia’s heart twisted. While it was nice to see an alien baby, there was something about seeing mother and child that made her think…She rubbed her eyes. Now, now, Lydia. She mentally scolded herself. Don’t cry now, you’re a guest here. Be polite.

Eva looked at Aikka. “Aikka, I didn't know that you had a baby sister.”

Aikka blushed. “Well, it was only a few years since our time in Oban. I have to admit, I was surprised that my mother was pregnant. Though it’s nice to have someone to look up to me.”
“Can the rest of us say hello?” Rush asked.

Ishtar, Alon and Symphony wasted no time greeting the little Nourasian princess. Ishtar snuffled and sneezed, earning her a laugh. “Hi there! My name’s Ishtar.”

“I’m Alon. Want to see a little trick?” Alon created a small cloud and snow gently fell on Narai’s head.

“My name’s Symphony, Princess Narai.” Symphony twirled and dipped. She sang once again. The wind rose around her, carrying several flowers over to the queen. “For the mother and child.”

The queen smiled. “Thank you.” She took them and placed them on a table. She looked at Lydia. “Are these well-behaved creatures yours?”

Lydia blushed. She nodded. “It’s…Kinda hard to explain.” In time, Lydia went into full detail of her situation. Her meeting with Mercu. Her space exploration. Creating Ishtar, Alon and Symphony. Her transformation. Before she could tell about her mother, she stopped herself. “As you can see…This is a lot for me to deal with.”

“Indeed…” The Nourasian King said. “I understand why you’re trying to remain composed, but perhaps it would be beneficial if you stay here a little longer so it doesn’t affect your travel.”
Rush loomed over the queen and Narai as he made funny faces. A giggle was followed then the little princess pulled on his beard. The queen had her eyes on Lydia. “Yes. I would like to know your work.”

Lydia’s blush grew brighter. A smile written on her face. Suddenly, a weird sensation crawled over her. “Not again.” She rubbed her head. “Unbelievable! Just when I was about to say yes!” Suddenly, she saw an orange shape dance before her. It was a little aggressive but didn’t go after her. The shape began to solidify and took on a lizard-like shape. “Hello? Who are you?”

“Lydia? Are you ok?”

Lydia snapped back into reality. Everyone looked at her in concern. Lydia rubbed her head. “Sorry. My powers went crazy on me.” She sat down. “Well, let’s enjoy the food. After all, the servants took in a lot of effort to make it.” She popped a dumpling-like food in her mouth. A sweet sensation crawled all over her mouth. “MMM! This is great.” She started to eat more. However, the image of the orange creature lingered in her mind.

Chapter Text

For the entire afternoon, Lydia started to feel better. Aikka gave her a tour of the castle. Her ears took in the sweet music outside. The colorful tapestries that told stories of the people who lived here. Even the King and Queen were kind enough to share a few words in their language to improve her speech amongst the guards. Eva, Rush, Spirit and even Sagittarius were all having a wonderful time observing the castle. Lydia giggled a few times when Sagittarius was admiring the stonework of each arch of the castle.

“Look at these statues!” Sagittarius gushed. His yellow eyes sparkled with delight. His ears vibrated with excitement. A few of the guards watched this with amusement. “Years upon years of dedication. The stoic face of the kings. The figures of the queens perfected in a way where time wouldn’t ravage their memories.” He tried to touch the thin arm of the queen but a guard stopped him. The Crog backed away slowly.

Rush barked out a laugh. “You really are enjoying yourself, aren’t you?”

Sagittarius blushed. “I just don’t exactly have the freedom to express it as much. Those that I do talk with always groan and say ‘quit it with the pointless stuff and get workn’.”

“Is that why you were hostile toward Brinnia in the beginning?” Lydia asked.

Sagittarius’s ears drooped. His memories clouded with sorrow. “Yes…At first I only took her prisoner to prove myself. But…I wanted to learn about this planet so badly…I wanted to know her. I know what I did was wrong, but we’ve both figured that no amount of harm would fix anything. Would only set a few things straight, but barely changes the situation we’re trapped in.”

Lydia nodded. “I know what you mean. For thousands of years, humans fought each other for resources. Hating each other over and over. Now that hate seems to have launched itself to the stars.” Her eyes focused on the leaders. “I think…despite our differences, we’re alike in some way. We like things. We feel pain. We want to get better overtime. Right now…It’s just hard to see that. Plus the hurt we inflict doesn’t go away overnight. You and Brinnia knew that, but I guess the only reason you grew close was because you got tired of feeling hatred and anger toward something that you don’t have over something that should never have existed in the first place.”

“Which is?”

“Difference.”

There was a heavy silence. It was even enough to silence the giant bugs that were roaming near the palace. Everyone just stood there. Taking in Lydia’s words as if she just recited an enchanting spell. Were they really different? Sure, every alien race was tall or thin. Slimy or rocky. Struggles…Seemed to overlap.

Lydia stiffened. She couldn’t explain why, but her body was on edge. Her tails and fur stood on end. A scent drifted on the wind. It was repugnant. It almost made her ill. Faint rustling, followed by heavy breathing entered the silence. However, it wasn’t heading toward them. It was heading to something else. Her fox ears twitched. Lydia looked around. Then, she saw a tower through a window. The sounds were in that direction.
Lydia turned to the nearest guard. She pointed to the tower. “Where does that lead?”

“To the queen’s quarters.” The guard answered.

“Get the King!” Lydia shouted. Before anyone could ask what was going on, Lydia took off her shoes and jumped out of the window. The moment Lydia started to fall was the moment she realized what a horrible mistake that was. She screamed as she fell from twenty feet. Suddenly, her tails formed a spike causing her to bounce for a moment before she fell on her butt. “Ow…” She rubbed her but. Her ears soon picked up a scream. “No, no, no, no…” Her feet began to pick up speed as she went for the tower. Before she could even think of how to get up there, her body took command. Her hands grabbed at each vine. Her feet pushed against the stone. She soon peeked across the window.

She gasped in horror. Eyes widened in the torn up bedroom. Curtains ripped. A crib was turned over. Looming over the two frightened Nourasian was a monster. The same grotesque monsters from the Phils planet had somehow gotten to Nourasia. This monster reassembled a skeletal minotaur. Nostrils flared. Red eyes focused on the Queen and Narai. The Queen whimpered. Her arms tightly held her crying child. The monster raised its claws high. It was delivering the final blow.

“Noooo!” Lydia jumped into the room. Her speed doubled as she tackled the creature to the ground. Her teeth sharpened. She bit into the creature’s arm. A deafening roar erupted into the room. It pushed Lydia away. However, Lydia refused to let it come anywhere near mother and child. She growled and lunged. This time she dragged the monster out of another window. The two fell out and landed in the middle of the courtyard.

Shouts and horns soon sounded in the area. Guards ran out to see what the commotion was. Spears pointed at the two. Eva and the others soon arrived with the King in tow. “Lydia! Are you-” She gasped at the monsters. “They’re here too?!”

“How did they even find us?” Rush asked.

Sagittarius narrowed his eyes. “I bet it’s those chips I found amongst the dust.” He looked at Rush. “I found out about it only after Lydia’s fit. I was going to tell you all but-” His ears shot up. “Wait! They must be more near the outskirts of the castle and the city.” He turned to the king. “Your Majesty. The people of Nourasia are in danger! You must have the village on lockdown or someone could be taken.”

The King was silent for a moment. He thought for a moment. Then, he waved a guard over. “Send scouts to search the area. If there are more of these things nearby, get the civilians to safety and attack on sight.” The guard bowed and left.

“Look!” Rush yelled. He pointed at the arena.

Lydia suddenly got down on all fours. Her gray eyes turned silver. All of her tails arched. The beast snorted. It charged at her. Then, she let out a high pitch wail that nearly deafened everyone. She charged once the creature was stunned. Her arms rippled as she grabbed ahold of the creature. Then flung it into the air. It went back down with a heavy slam. It twitched, but didn’t move. Lydia breathed heavily. Her head raised again. She sniffed the air. Her growl came back. She barked out an order in a strange language. She then ran to a nearby hallway, attacking a wall. A wall that had a strange shadow in it.

Spirit also spotted it. He ran forward and snatched the shadow before it could kill a nearby guard. This one was a mix of a Praying Mantis with an Earwig. Its pincers tried to take out Spirit’s head, but Ishtar dismantled the creature with one clean bite. Spirit and the guard stared in amazement as the little boar had grown in size once again. Eyes glowing bright green. Tusks sharper than before.

Alon and Symphony were also in their enlarged forms. Eyes glowing bright. They past the guards with ease. Raking the shadows with fins and talons. The monsters appeared again in a large horde. Everyone stared in horror at this disturbing sight. The threat was right under their noses this whole time. Alon, Symphony and Ishtar formed a ring around their mistress. Heads pointed to the sky. A unanimous sound erupted. A strange melody lost to time. Rings of colored light exploded into the air. Winds howled. Water churned. Even the earth lashed out in pure rage against the monsters.

Eva grunted. She clasped her hands over her ears. Eyes shut tight. Aikka wrapped his arms around her to protect her. When it was over, Eva slowly opened her eyes and lowered her hands. She was shocked at a sight before her. The monsters were defeated. Not only that, but Lydia’s tails held the Nourasian Queen and princess. Mother and child were unharmed. The courtyard had flowers and ice scattered around. The winds give off a sweet smell.

“Darling!” The King ran out with Aikka close behind. Lydia lowered her tails to allow the Queen to reunite with her family.

The Queen shifted her arms to hug her husband. “My dear king! I’m so glad you’re alright.”

“How did you get down here?” Aikka asked. He couldn’t help but hug his mother. Despite being a prince, he was still a child who deeply loved his mother.

A howl resounded. Everyone turned their attention to Lydia. Her silver form pointed to the sky. Ears flipped back. When the sound stopped, her eyes turned to everyone. She gave a peaceful smile.

“There was another beast coming for us.” The Queen explained. Her daughter giggled in her arms. She smiled. “Lydia was able to grab us with those beautiful tails of hers and got us out.”
“That’s the true power of the Kitsellus.” The King gazed in wonder.

Eva gave a smile back to Lydia. Looks like there’s still more learning to do.

Chapter Text

After some time, Prince Scorpio had completed his carving. The creature cradled in his hand. He couldn’t explain it, but he felt the urge to give it a name. He raised to eye level. “Now,” he spoke. His voice was soft as if a warm caress entered into his soul. “What to name you.”

Before he could think of anything, his consul beeped. Scorpio jumped. He sighed when he realized who was calling him. “Blazing Stars….” He set his creature down and pressed a button. His ears flicked with annoyance as his father and cousin both appeared on the screen. “What is it?”

“Nice to see you too, Scorpio.” Leo gave an unamused look. His ears drooped in annoyance. It looked like he would’ve said more, but the Emperor was able to beat him to it.

“Did you find the coordinates of where the human might be?” The Emperor then noticed something moving on the counsel. His voice seemed to be a little unnerved. As if their target had to be caught for the sake of their survival.

Prince Scorpio pressed a few buttons. A map soon appeared. “I’ve looked into the planets near the area. There are at least three that are closest to the-gugh!” He clutched at his chest. His skin felt as if it caught on fire. Visions of silver fur surrounded him. Something small holding his hand. Fearful, teary eyes looking down at him. A monster trying to kill him. He let out a coughing fit. The agony felt like it wouldn’t end. Suddenly, he jolted upward at the sound of his name being called.

“Scorpio!” His father’s voice cut through his thoughts. “What’s going on?”

Scorpio took a few deep breaths. His hands were shaking. “I…don’t know. I had a…vision. Someone crying…”

“Don’t do anything foolish!” The Crog Emperor said. “I’m having Leo take over. Come home now!”

Prince Scorpio glared at his father. “No.” He pressed a button that ended the conversation. He grabbed his handle when something began to move. A scraping sound echoed throughout the hull of the ship. Suddenly, he felt something crawl on his arm and made its way up to his head. An orange lizard head stared back at him. He nearly jumped. “By Kraam! Who are you?”

“I’m Blazing Stars,” The lizard answered. “I’ll serve you well master…Uh..Scorpio is it?”

“Yes…” Prince Scorpio sighed. “Can this day get any worse?”

The ship rattled. A small spear poked at one portion of the hull. The screen lit up, showing Leo’s smug face. “If you think I’m being left out on your little fun, think again.”

Prince Scropio sighed. His ears drooped in annoyance. “Just my luck.” He looked at the spiny lizard. “Hang on. We’ll be heading to the next planet over.” He activated the thrusters of his ship. The engines hummed to life. The spikes glowed. Then, he grabbed a few levers. In a matter of minutes, his ship thrusted forward. Leo being dragged in the process.
—-----------------------(Back in Nourasia)-----------------------------------------------------------
Lydia laid in bed. Her creatures curled up next to her. She groaned as exhaustion rolled in. After her fight, she helped the King’s guards search the perimeter of the land just to make sure that the monsters had left them alone. They found that some of the monsters were gone, but human handprints dotted the woods in the east. Prince Aikka, Eva and Rush said the same thing. As for Spirit and Saggitarius, the two giants decided to stay in the palace just to be on the safe side.

Once Lydia arrived at the palace, it was nighttime. Her body begged for sleep but her mind was too awake. The recordings, the handprints, the attacks. They were all connected in a way that was dangerous. It was hard to pinpoint what was happening, but Lydia knew that no one in space was safe. Then, her mind went back to what Eva had said about the creators of the worlds. She sat up. “Could it have something to do with them?”

Her stomach growled. Lydia groaned. Her fox ears drooped as she touched her stomach. “Just my luck. I was so invested in this insanity that I forgot to eat.” A knock on the door broke her thoughts. She lifted her head. “Come in.”

Eva and Aikka soon entered the room. Both had tired smiles on their faces. Eva held a plate of food up to her. “Hey Lydia,” Eva said. “How are you feeling?”

Lydia sighed. Her tails flicked in annoyance. “Hungry. Also distubed by everything that happened today.” She began to look at her hands and feet. Claws had formed during their time of searching.Even hints of gray fur riddled her body. “Oh great! Now I can’t use shoes anymore!” She pouted fiercely.

Aikka laughed. “If it makes you feel better, we’re still not used to your form yet.” A heavy pause hung in the air. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess I need to work on my conversations more.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, thank you for saving my mother and little sister.”

Lydia smiled. “You’re welcome…” Her ears drooped. She held one of her tails in her arms. “I just wish…I could’ve found my mom…maybe she might be involved in this…” Tears rolled down her cheeks. Suddenly, one of her tails snatched the plate Eva was holding. She looked up, her face red. She wiped her face. “Darn it! I really need to have better control of my tails.”

Eva gave a soft smile. “I know how you feel, but we gotta take one thing at a time.” She sat in front of the bed. “I think it’s not just your mom. It’s Prince Scropio isn’t it?”

Lydia nodded. “I don’t understand why I go back to him and the Crogs. I know they’re horrible, but after meeting Sagittarius…I don’t know what to think.” She took a bite of the dumplings from before. She hummed in happiness. “The only thing I do know is that…I need to find the Crog boy from my visions.” Lydia explained the strange event that happened.

Aikka thought for a moment. “I guess for now, we should explore the other planets nearby Nourasia. See if we can find any more clues.” He bowed to the girls. “Good night you two. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Night Aikka,” Eva said.

Lydia smiled. “Night.” She continued to eat her fill until she was ready to talk to Eva again. She blushed hard as Eva leaned closer. “What?” Suddenly, she felt her tails move as Ishtar, Alon and Symphony popped their heads from underneath. “Were you awake this whole time?”

“Only when the food was brought in”, Ishtar answered. She was smacked in the head by Alon. She snorted, but her eyes sparkled as she glanced back at Lydia. “Sooo…What’s he like?”

“Who?” Lydia tilted her head.

“The Crog boy!” Ishtar shouted. “Was he dreamy? Ack!” Ishtar was soon met by pecks and swats from Alon and Symphony.

Eva turned to Lydia. She grimaced at the event. “I was gonna ask you the same thing.” Then, her face turned serious. “Do you know about the Crog boy?”

Lydia’s face turned to a bright red. “O-only in my dreams when I was little. However…There was this one time where it wasn’t a dream. I was six when it happened.” She looked at her hands that were folded neatly on her lap. “I had a bad day at school and my mother was working late, so I had a pre-made dinner and went to bed. Next thing I knew, I woke up in a strange alien world.”

Eva’s eyes went wide. “So what happened?” She leaned in closer.

“Well…I walked around for a while.” Lydia yawned. “I assured myself that…it was…just a dream…Then, I met him. He was about the same height as me.” She giggled. “Imagine my surprise to see a Crog that small…Considering they were giants.” She raised her arms only to plop down on the bed.

Eva laughed. “I guess talking about dreams has really worn you out.” She yawned. She picked up the nearest blanket and draped it over her.

“N-noooo!” Lydia thrashed in trying to get up but it was all in vain. “I owe you guuysss a sssstoryyyy!” Her whines began to die down. Her tails curled around her. Ears softened. “Dreams came…when I saw…Prince Scropio…” Soft snoring filled the air.

Eva sighed once again. She adjusted Lydia’s blanket so it could cover both of them. She walked toward the doorway. As Eva grabbe the door, she saw the three stone spirits wave her goodbye. She waved back. The door closed with a soft click.

Just as the trio laid back down, Alon jolted upward. His eyes darted across the room. “D-did anyone feel that?” He was only met with blank stares. Alon merely shivered.

Ishtar merely shrugged. “No.” Suddenly, she and Symphony suddenly perked their heads. Shivers ran down the green boar’s spine. “Woah!” She looked over and saw that Lydia barely moved. Then, a thought came to her. “You guys…There’s something you need to know.”

The Symphony and Alon leaned in closer. “Originally there were four of us, right?” The duo nodded. Ishtar looked around, expecting a shadow to snatch them at any moment. “Well, Lydia lost one. I think one of the Crogs got a hold of it.”

“But…” Symphony huddled deeper into the blanket. “Wouldn’t that mean the Crogs have the power of Miss Lydia’s kind and ours too?”

“Who knows,” Ishtar said. “For now we stay close to Mistress as best as possible.”
—----------------(The Next Morning)------------------------------------------------------------------------
The crew was having breakfast the next morning. Lydia was half asleep by the time she was able to sit down at the royal table. Lydia couldn’t find any clothes that might be able to fit her. However, she was surprised when the servants came in and provided her with traditional Nourasian clothing that was modified for her body. The material was light. It gave enough room where her tails can move around freely without a problem.

Eva was the first to notice the outfit. Her eyes sparkled with delight. “Wow Lydia! You look great!” She took a sip of her tea before she continued. “Where did you get it?”

“Some servants came over and told me that the king ordered them to be brought over to me.” Lydia turned to Aikka. “Thank you for letting your father know about my…wardrobe malfunction.”

Sagittarius stirred his soup awkwardly. His ears drooped slightly. “Uh…actually…I suggested it to the king yesterday.” All eyes were on him. His hands immediately shook. “I didn’t really think he’d take it. Me being a Crog soldier and all. I-I figured that you could stand for a change of clothes since it might take hours to modify the ones you currently have.”

Lydia gave a smile of approval. Then, she went back to her meal. The latest dish made her tails wags. A few servants were smacked by them as they tried to get everything ready. A few dishes landed on the floor. “Ack! I’m sorry! Let me help.” As she got out of her chair, she knocked it over. Lydia let out a frustrated growl. She tied her tails together. Once it was done, she began to help clean up.

Rush groaned. “Still having trouble with your tails?”

“Even I still find it odd that it would only work if she’s in need of protecting someone,” Aikka pointed out.

“A little,” Lydia admitted. “Not as bad as it was before.” She allowed the servants to back away. With every amount of concentration, each of her tails performed a simple task of reaching for food without flailing around. Two grabbed some fruit. Three went for soup. While the remaining four opened a few windows.

Everyone had their eyes wide in amazement. Spirit and Eva were the first to applaud Lydia’s effort. Rush, Aikka, Sagittarius and Aikka’s parents, who just entered, all clapped as Lydia’s tails went back to their normal positions.

“Keep at it, mistress!” Ishtar insisted.

“Miss Lydia, that was great!” Symphony mentioned. She hovered over to Lydia’s shoulders. Her wings ached but she had to hide the fact that the fourth stone was alive somehow.

Alon yawned. He laid curled up in a bowl. “It…was great.” Snores soon hit the air.
—--------------------(At the ship)------------------------------------------------------------------------
It took awhile to get a grumpy G’dar to co-operate onto the ship. Lydia and the others had packed their things. Once Aikka and Spirit were able to get the giant beetle into the vehicle, the crew all faced the Nourasian Royals. “Thank you for your hospitality,” Lydia said with a bow. “I also appreciate you for giving me some clothes and for listening to Sagittarius.” Her face went red. “I-I know it wasn’t easy for you after everything that’s happened-”

The Nourasian King raised his hand. He pulled it back and bowed his head. “It is I who should be thanking you.” He smiled as he held his wife closer. The little princess cooed in the queen’s arms. “You saved my daughter and my wife from those monsters. If you hadn’t spotted the danger…” His words hung there. Too afraid to be even thought about.

“We’ll have to find out more later,” Sagittarius said. “There are a few more planets nearby so we may find the answers we need.” He flinched as Rush stared at him. “I was checking the list this morning!” His ears drooped. “I simply wanted to be efficient.” He bowed to the king and queen. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

The Nourasians simply nodded. The little princess only cooed again. Her hands reached out to Sagittarius. The queen placed a hand on her daughter. Eyes nervously focused on the Crog.

Lydia frowned. Poor Sagittarius, she thought. He’s trying.

“Farewell, mother, father, sister,” Aikka said. “I’ll meet you again.”

“Be careful my son,” the queen said.

The crew soon went inside and fired up the ship. Everyone was quiet throughout the lift off. Engines hummed. The computers beeped a few times. Soon they were out of the Nourasian atmosphere. A gray dot in the blanket of space.They continued on cruising speed for several hours before they reached a small four way fork in their path. Eva pressed a few buttons and pulled up the map.

“Ok.” Eva pointed to the four planets that were close to Nourasia. “So here are the next couple of planets we should check. There might be more humans nearby so we better do an inventory of medical supplies.”

Lydia suddenly flinched as she felt something radiate up and down her spine. Suddenly, she began to smell something. Ship oil. Sharp metal. Flames. A faint memory flashed in her mind. It was sharper than it was before. A young Crog was dressed in simple red garments, but he had multiple ears. Lydia tried to reach out for them, but she gasped as a jarring sensation hit her.

Alarms rang in their ears. Ishtar, Alon and Symphony gathered together on Lydia’s lap. Ishtar growled. Her body gave off a bright green glow. “What now?!”

“Can’t we get through one journey without a crisis?!” Rush roared over the noise.

A static buzz entered the comms. “You-zzzz-think-zzz-you can get away?” Before long, an image soon appeared. Two Crog ships loomed over them. One of the ships had very familiar markings on them.

“It’s Prince Scropio!” Lydia shouted. A brief image flashed in her mind. The same lizard from before. She gasped. “He’s got the fourth stone!”

“What?!” Eva shouted.
“Are you sure?” Aikka asked.

Lydia nodded. “We need to land or-” A loud boom resounded in the ship. Lydia’s world spun for a moment. A young Crog laying on her lap. Desperate pleas for help coming out of her throat. Lydia felt a firm hand on her shoulder. Her eyes landed on Spirit. Symphony hovered over her face. “Symphony…Help me fight back…” She turned to Ishtar. The boar was slightly dizzy. “You too.”

Ishtar and Symphony touched Lydia’s outstretched hands. Alon slowly crawled out. The seahorse hovered before he placed his head on the now furry hands. Their bodies began to glow a bright, colorful light around the ship. The metal began to shift as if it was healing itself. The room around the crew began to expand. When another shot was fired, a shield appeared and deflected it. A beam of light shot back. It hit both Crog ships but only caused the engines to falter and fail.

Alarms rang around the group. Red lights flashed. G’dar letting out a distressing cry. Aikka tried to get out of his seat but the sudden pull of their ship’s gravity began to drain his efforts. Suddenly, he felt the ship going down. “Everyone hold on!”

“Brace for impact!” Sagittarius shouted. He hugged Lydia and Spirit while Rush grabbed Eva and Aikka.

Their ship along with the Crogs groaned as they fell toward another planet. Slowly at first, but faster each time gravity pulled at them. They turned into shooting stars as they went into the nearby planet. Flames engulfed the spacecrafts in a matter of seconds as they hit the first layer of atmosphere. However, one was able to land while two were smashed into pieces.

Chapter Text

Lydia was walking through a lush jungle. Strange frogs chirped and croaked. She gripped her nightgown tighter in her small hands. She looked down at them. Wait…Lydia thought. Did I…shrink? She flinched when the sound of rustling was heard. Lydia turned her head to see that the Crog child from her dreams was now trying to push the greenery away from him. Lydia could now see a clear view of him. He was like any other Crog except for those ears. There were two of them instead of one. She tried to reach out to help him, but her hands were smacked away. Tears welled in her eyes and she cried.

The Crog groaned. “You humans are such crybabies aren’t you?” He brushed the plants off his own pajamas. The cloth was made of silk. The deep red color made him stand out in the forest. He stared hard at young Lydia. Then, he looked around before he patted her head. “There…Will you stop crying now before something eats us?”

Lydia sniffed. She looked up at him in surprise. She took off her glasses and began to wipe them against her nightgown. “Um…What’s your name?” Lydia was only met with a stare. Her cheeks flustered. “I just want to call you by your name. It’ll be rude if I call you Crog all the time.”

The Crog was silent. He crossed his arms and sighed. Ears drooped. “Prince Scorpio….” He turned to Lydia. “That’s all you need to know.”

“Lydia…” Lydia said. “My name’s Lydia. It’s nice to meet you, Prince Scorpio.” She briefly looked at Prince Scorpio’s ears. She put her glasses back on. Her face went red at the sight of them. Her hands folded together. “Can I-” Her words were cut off by a roar.

Lydia woke up with a start. She tried to move her hands. Her head moved from one side to the other. Her vision was a little blurry, but there were no further aches. She slithered her hand to her side. “E-eva…Aikka…” Lydia soon realized that the lights were out. A few light bulbs were damaged. Cracks appeared in certain places. However, she was starting to make out certain shapes.

A soft groan reached her ears. Lydia turned. She soon saw Aikka put his arms around Eva. Both Rush and Spirit were spared of debris thanks to Saggitarus shielding them. The Crog’s head was bleeding. “Guys…Guys wake up!” A sound reverberated in the hull of the ship. Lydia instinctively broke free. Her feet tapped against something smooth. She picked it up. Her fingers could feel stubby legs and ears. “Ishtar!”

G’dar’s cry echoed loudly now. She grouped the ground for the stones and bag. Once she was able to find them, Lydia moved toward G’dar. Thankfully, the damage to the ship wasn’t too severe. The lights seem to have been knocked out but the walls didn’t look as damaged. I better treat Saggitarius to the latest desert once this is over.

Lydia soon reached G’dar. The Nourasian Beetle was rattled but didn’t seem too phased. Lydia slowly went over to the giant bug. She patted his head gently. “There…There…It’s ok now.” Lydia giggled as she received a kiss from the beetle. “Ok, can you move?” Her question was met with slight movement of the enormous legs.

“Lydia?” Eva’s voice echoed across the ship. “Lydia, where are you?”

“I’m over here!” Lydia called back. “Can any of you move?”

“Yeah. Aikka’s ok.”

“G’dar’s just a little rattled but no injury to him whatsoever.”

“Good to know.” Rush’s voice soon joined the mix.

“Rush! Is anything broken? What about Spirit and Sagittarius?”

A grunt was heard. Something rattled and creaked. Then a loud crash. “Ooops…I’m fine. Spirit is too. Sagittarius managed to shield us when we went down. By the looks of him though he won’t wake up for a while.”

Lydia made her way back to the control room. Her eyes grew sharper in the light. “Let’s get out of this room. My vision is really strong in the dark. I’ll let you hold on to my tails and lead the way out.” She soon arrived to see that everyone except Sagittarius were on their feet. The Crog was being held up by both Spirit and Rush.

“Sounds like a plan,” Eva said. She reached out to the extended tail. Her fingers tightened around them. Eva walked forward as carefully as she could. Her shoes tapped against the floor for any debris.

The group were able to reach Lydia with ease. They all held on as Lydia guided them through the dark. Their steps echoed as they shuffled through the darkness. Finally, they managed to get out of the ship. G’dar tailing them like a giant dog. To their surprise, they were welcomed by a barren landscape. The sand being oddly colorful against the lavender sky. Everyone set Sagittarius down gently.

“So…” Rush rubbed his head. “Anyone have an idea of where we are?”

Spirit shook his head. Aikka was too busy looking after G’dar to answer. Lydia and Eva both shook their heads. Then, Eva thought of something. She turned to Lydia. “Where’s Ishtar and the others?”

Lydia went into her bag and pulled them out. The three stones nestled in her palms. “They’re burnt out but I think they’ll be back soon.” A rumble vibrated around them. Lydia’s tails and ears perked upright. “What was that?”

The group glanced around. There was nothing coming towards them, but they couldn’t shake the feeling that they weren’t alone. Spirit suddenly clapped his hands and pointed to something in the distance. A faint glint could be seen.

Eva cupped her left hand as she tried to get a better view. “Do you think it’s General Leo’s and Prince Scorpio’s ships?”

“Most likely,” Lydia answered. She tucked her stones away and joined Eva. “They were attached to our ship when they attacked us.” Her mind wandered back to the dream had earlier. She turned to Eva. “Um…Eva…There’s-” A strange zipping noise was heard above them. Lydia looked up in time to see a tongue heading straight toward them. She pushed Eva away. Lydia tried to jump but the tongue tied around her up before she could get far.

“Lydia!” Eva cried out.
Spirit acted. He quickly took his shadow form. He attached himself to the tongue. Before he could get Lydia free, the ambassador of the Phils was met with a blast of heat. He fell on the ground. He rolled frantically to put himself out.

Lydia thrashed and struggled. Her ninetails wrapped around the slimy rope. She managed to break free. Her speed had only gotten a few feet toward her friends when a large shape appeared before her. She crashed into him. Lage hands grabbed her, squeezing at her abdomen. Lydia gritted her teeth.

“Stop struggling.” Prince Scorpio held her up to her face. “You’re coming with me.” His eyes leveled with hers. He couldn’t explain it, but his heart thundered in his chest. The strange thing is, it was out of fear. It was…joy. Pure joy of seeing her again. Behind him, Blazing Stars gave him a mournful look. Leo running up beside the lizard with a look of pure anger. “Why…Why are you doing this to me?”

Lydia took a deep breath. The images from her dreams began to mix with her memories. Wait…Her eyes were wide as realization hit. Those aren’t dreams…They’re…She swallowed hard. “I…remember.” She leaned in closer. “Do…you remember me, Scorpio? The night we met?”

“That’s-” Prince Scopio’s eyes went wide. His heart thundered hard. “W-what did you just say?”

Leo stared at the two of them confused. Eva, Rush, Spirit and Aikka stood there stunned. Before anyone could say anything, the ground rumbled beneath their feet. Visible cracks splintered on the ground. Something rose out, a strange creature that had a body of a naked mole rat and armor of a scorpion rose out of the ground. It let out a bellowing roar. It flopped down, sending a shockwave toward them.

Spirit and Aikka ran to Molly and covered her. Rush put a protective stance, shielding Saggitarius from the sandy blast. Leo pulled out his weapon only to be blinded. Prince Scorpio and Blazing Stars curled around Lydia as everything started to sink around them. Cries were heard but they soon vanished. Nothing remained on the sandy surface.
—------------------------------(Back on Earth with Don Wei)----------------------------------
It’s only been a few days and Eva didn’t call yet. Don Wei was notorious for being a worrier. He paced in his house. The living room floor threatened to be worn down by his shoes. Hands held tight behind his back. Lydia was turning into something. What it is? He doesn’t know, but he had to put faith in both Eva and Aikka to make sure the mission doesn’t go south anymore than it does.

“Goodness! I’ve never seen someone that fussy since I first worked in a lab.”

Don Wei jumped at the voice. He turned to see it was Dr. Nongon. He sighed. “Oh…It’s just you…” He put a hand to his heart. “What are you doing here?”

“Just wanted to check in. My lab was in a tizzy over the news. Poison on our suits?! Who would do such a barbaric thing?”

Don Wei grimaced. “Who indeed…The President is having everything on lock down and doing a silent investigation. If it happened in space…” He tightened his hands. “We must be careful.”

Dr. Nongon nodded. “Agreed. Any news on where they’re going?”

“Not much…” Don Wei was about to say more but stopped himself. His stomach coiled at the sight of the doctor’s smile. “Um…Doctor…How long have you been working in that lab?”

“Oh for twenty years.” Dr. Nongon simply walked over to a table where pictures of young Eva lay. “I see you cherish your daughter a lot.”

Something about the doctor’s statement made his heart race harder. Mouth dry, he tried to get the words out. “Yes. I worry about her even now.” His body froze. He felt like a pawn on a chessboard. He thought back to Canaletto and how he took away his wife just for some stupid title. “If there’s nothing else relevant…I suggest you leave. Now!”

Dr. Nongon’s expression didn’t change. He merely bowed. “Forgive me. I thought some idle chit-chat would lighten the mood.” He was only halfway through the door when he turned back to him. “Oh..Please let me know if they’ve found Lydia’s mother yet. I do hope that her disappearance isn’t too much of a distraction for our alien linguist.” With that, he left.

Don Wei collapsed on the sofa. He looked at his arms. To his shock, bruises were found along the forearms. His whole body shook. He was so pleasant earlier, he thought. But now…I feel like I'm trapped in the room with a true monster. Don picked up the photo of Eva and Maya. Eva…Please be ok.
—-----------------------------------------(The desert planet with Lydia)----------------------------
Lydia groaned. She rubbed her head. Teeth gritted, she tried to move. No such luck. She tried again. However, her bag was still stuck to her side. The stones jabbing into her ribs. Lydia looked around, she could make out Prince’s Scorpio’s limbs and a wall of scales. Pressure along her back and face let her know that something had her pinned.
She fiddled with her hand until she found her bag. The hard stones pressed against her fingers. Lydia tried to find something that might give her a better idea of where they are. A soft groan reached her ears. Her cheeks flushed as a warm breath tickled them. Her tails wrapped around Prince Scorpio’s abdomen. A pair of yellow eyes glowed in the dark. Lydia gave an awkward smile. “Uh…hi…Can you make out where we are?”
Prince Scorpio was silent. He turned his body slightly. He let out a grunt. “Just my luck. I have to get stuck with an alien runt under a sheet of sand.”
“We’re buried alive?!” Lydia felt the grip on her tighter.
“Calm down deceiver, I’m sure we can dig our way out. Just inhale our pocket of air.”
Lydia gave him an offended look. “Deceiver?! What do you mean?”
“You’re actually one of the Kitsellus. They’re known to change their shape.” He lightly touched Lydia’s ears. They were surprisingly soft. “My father also told me that your kind is one of the oldest races in the galaxy. I don’t know why I had to stay away from you. You’re pretty pathetic.” To his surprise, he received a slap that gave a burning pain in his cheeks. He rubbed the spot where he was struck. His mind went into a whirlwind.

“I’m pathetic?! You don’t even know me! You never even bothered to give us a chance. The moment humans went into your territory, you gave us no warning. You attacked us because your people couldn’t handle a little dent in your pride.Then, Toros tried to kill the other racers for a power that he doesn’t deserve. As well as unleash an ambush on the respective planets. At least Sagittarius had the guts to admit that your people are messed up.” Lydia raised a hand before Prince Scorpio could say anything. “Yes, to you he is a low class soldier. But to me, he’s a scientist and an explorer willing to learn about new people. A lover with a broken heart and not afraid to show it. He’s far stronger than your people will ever know.” Tears gleamed in her eyes.

Suddenly, a groan resounded around them. A bright orange glow blinded them for a moment. “Master…Are you and your mate ok?”

Lydia and Prince Scorpio froze. Both were unable to speak for a long period of time. Lydia’s fur stood on end while Prince Scorpio’s ears twitched violently.

“We’re not mates, Blazing Stars,” Prince Scorpio said. His voice held an edge of annoyance. “Can you at least get us out of here?! Before we all suffocate?”

“Ok.” Blazing Stars began to wiggle around. Everything was squeezing against them. “Patooh! There’s so much sand here-Wait I think I-” A rumbling noise followed by a crack sent everyone on edge. “Uh oh..”

The sand soon gave way. The group screamed as they found themselves falling into a cavern. Blazing Stars shrunk down, grabbing one of Lydia’s tails. Lydia clung onto Prince Scorpio for dear life. She closed her eyes shut as she was prepared to hit the ground. A heavy crunch resounded. She opened her eyes again and saw Prince Scorpio holding onto a dark purple crystal. His blood seeped out of his hand.

“Are you ok?” Lydia asked.

Prince Scorpio only gave a hollowed laugh. “I’ve felt worse…” He peered around until he found what looked like a good place to land. He looked at the lizard on his tail. “Blazing Stars, hold on to this creature. We’re going to land.”

“My name’s Lydiaaaaaaaa!” Lydia screamed as they plummeted once more.

Crystals exploded everywhere as they landed. Prince Scorpio set Lydia down while he looked at his hand. His eyes were thoughtful. He shrugged it off. He held out his hand for Blazing Stars but Lydia slapped it away.

“Don’t touch him!” Lydia’s ears pinned back. “You expect me to let you have him after how you’ve treated him.”

Blazing Stars crawled up to her head. “Mama Lydia. Sir Scorpio carved me. He gave me a name. I do appreciate your concern but I’ll be fine.” He leaped onto Prince Scropio’s extended hand. Unaware of the awkward feeling he left between them.

Silence filled the cavern. It felt like an eternity until Prince Scorpio was able to speak. He cleared his throat. His ears betrayed his unease. “Familiar with this planet?” He groaned at Lydia’s soured face. “Kinsellian…Human…” He sighed. “Lydia…I’m…s-sorry. Alright?”

Lydia looked up at him. The fur around her began to relax. Her tails began to arrange themselves. She took a deep breath. Part of her wanted to apologize for slapping, however, she knew there was nothing for her to apologize. She took a deep breath and calmed herself before continuing. Lydia glanced around the cavern. Crystals gleamed a thousand colors. “So far, there’s been only three planets that have crystals.” Her cheeks flushed. “Unfortunately I don’t remember them all since it was explored by humans yet.” She noticed his annoyed look. “Oh like you even know?”

Prince Scorpio looked away. Then, he noticed something. He pointed at it. “There. It looks like a worn out path.” He began to walk towards it. “This could lead us to where the others are.”

Lydia followed him, but she soon found herself being yanked to the front by her tails. “Ow!” Her fur flared out once more. “What was that for?!”

“Just walk in front. I already said my apology. Now, I want to make sure you don’t try anything funny.” He flinched as his hand began to throb. He pointed in the direction of the path.

Lydia huffed. “Fine,” She grumbled. The rest of the words she muttered to herself. “Why does he have to be so stuck up? He can’t even get a single speech into his thick head.”

“I can hear you. You can keep prattling on as you wish.”

Lydia and Prince Scorpio marched on. Neither saying a word to each other. The roads stretched and turned. Crystals of blue and green lined their path. However, they couldn’t find any life or their friends. A few cracks and rumbles made them jump but nothing out of the ordinary. Finally, they found a river.

Lydia sniffed it. She smiled. “I don’t smell anything off. I think it’s safe to-” She felt something pull at her tails. “Ugh! What is it now?” She turned to see Prince Scorpio on his knees. His fingers gently rubbing them. Lydia’s face went beet red at the sight. “W-what are you doing?”

“Sssssoft tailssss…” His words slurred. The wound on his arm began to take on an ugly shade of purple. Ears drooped. Eyes unfocused. Even the shouts of Blazing Stars didn’t gain her attention. He almost had a child-like gaze as he looked at her. “Pretty. So pretty Lydia…Your glasses…Where’re your glasses?” Without warning, he collapsed.

“Prince Scorpio!” Lydia went over to him. She lightly placed a hand on his black skin. A rush of heat ran up her arm. “You’ve got a fever.” She turned his wound over. She gasped. “This is bad and we don’t have a kit! Let alone how to fix this!”

“What do we-” Blazing Stars was cut off as a strange grappling device snatched him out of nowhere. “Help!”

“Blazing Stars!” Lydia called out. A net flew out before. She covered Prince Scorpio as best as she could. A wild sensation grew in her body. She growled fiercely. Lydia bit on the rope, ignoring the electric shocks that went down her body. Hands pulling at the fabric. As it went on a memory flashed in her.

A young Lydia was climbing up a tree. She lost her footing until a large hand pulled her up and set her on a branch. Young Scorpio gave her an annoyed look. Lydia grinned. Suddenly, a golden light hit. They both turned to the horizon. Bluish-green foliage turning aquamarine in the light. Birds chirped, flying into the air.

“Wooow.” Lydia breathed. Her eyes grew wide at the beauty. “I wish my momma and Mercu could see this. It’s so pretty up here!” Tears stung her eyes. Sniffling was soon heard in her ears. She turned to see Prince Scorpio crying. “Prince Scorpio?”

Prince Scorpio’s eyes gleamed with tears. “It’s not fair! Everyone kept laughing at me back there. I couldn’t do anything! I’m the prince of the Crogs! A warrior! I’m feared by all!” A sob wracked. “I wanna go home!” He wailed. Tears flowed nonstop.

Lydia stared at him in surprise. A small smile appeared on her lips. She hugged him. This time, he didn’t try to push her away. “But you still protected me. It’s ok. We’ll find someone to send us home.” Suddenly, branches snapped above them.

“Lydia!” Prince Scorpio pushed her out of the way. He vanished as the creature attacked him. The two fell down from the trunk to the ground.

Lydia also fell. However, the branches slowed her descent. Breaking under her weight. She landed with a thud. Her world spun for a moment. When she got her bearings, Lydia slowly got up. “Scorpio? Scorpio?” She frantically got up. She saw the black monster looming over the unmoving body of Prince Scorpio.

Back in reality, Lydia found ropes wrapped around her neck. Prince Scorpio lies still as rope ties around his ears. “Get away from us,” She growled. She yanked on the ropes. A few snapped away. “Get away from uuuuusss!” She tore the ropes and net. This time, her fox ears picked up her assailants. She charged to the nearest one hidden behind a blue crystal cluster. Lydia jumped and bit down on the arm.

A child’s scream was heard. The skin was rough under her teeth. She let go and grabbed the gun, breaking it in two. Lydia’s attention went back to Prince Scorpio. She turned and went after the other attackers that were getting too close. Lydia roared until something hit her neck.
Lydia landed on top of Scorpio with a thud. Her world started to grow dark. However, she used the last of her energy to wrap her arms around him. She tried her best to fight her exhaustion. Her eyelids were threatening to close. “It’ll be ok…It’ll be…Scorpio…” She was swallowed by darkness once again.

Chapter Text

Lydia could feel something soft underneath her. Her mind was fuzzier than ever before. Her eyelids were unable to open. Sounds gargled around her, but she didn’t care. All she wanted was to just sleep in peace. As Lydia was pulled back into sleep, arms wrapped around her.
A little while later, Lydia regained some of her senses. Her vision blurred. Her skin was damp beyond belief. She slowly rolled into what felt like a giant pillow. She tried to get up but two things stopped her. One, a pair of muscled arms that didn’t freak her out. Two, a lead sensation in her stomach. Ugh! What happened? She thought. Why do I feel like tossing my stomach out the window?
“Ugh…Lydia…”
Lydia looked up and saw a huge head. Her vision started to clear and realized that she was in Prince Scorpio’s embrace. Lydia froze. Her cheeks flushed as the arms started to bring her closer to his chest. Breath trapped inside her, she tried to lightly tap him on the shoulder. However, her hand landed on his ear. She ran her fingers through it. A soft purr echoed around the room.
Slowly, a pair of yellow eyes glowed in the darkness. They started off as unfocused. They almost had a serene expression to them, like every burden that had been given to the troubled prince had gone away. Then, they sharpened and a look of embarrassment went into Prince Scorpio’s expression.
Lydia wiggled but it only made her more nauseous. She quickly covers her mouth. Her hand frantically reached for something until she felt a smooth surface of a bowl. She heaved. After a few agonizing minutes, she was able to gulp some air. “S-sorry…”
Prince Scorpion grunted. “N-not your fault. M-my hands feel like burning.” He rolled so his back faced her. He looked at his hands to see that they were bandaged. Then, he grabbed his torso. “Just my luck!” He clumsily made a grab for a pot and threw up in it. “How embarrassing…” His ears drooped until they were flat against his head.
For a while, the two laid in bed. Neither could move due to the pain that came into their core. It felt like forever until Lydia rolled to face him. She soon realized that her tails were still wrapped around him. Blushing, she slowly pulled them back.
Prince Scorpio tried his best to hide it, but he couldn’t help but shiver in the sensation. It felt colder without them around him. He lets out a soft sigh. “So…After all this time…We finally met again…”
Lydia’s cheeks went to a darker shade of red. “Y-yes…I’m…Sorry about the incident at the library.”
Prince Scorpio scoffed. “Personally, I was surprised that anyone found my library. Let alone you.”
Lydia laughed. “That was an accident.”
“I never dreamed that I would want to chase you.” He slowly rolled to face her. “However, the moment you stood against my father in court…I had this weird need to see you again.”
Lydia looked at him. He looked surprisingly vulnerable without his armor. Her eyes soon wandered to his chest. There was a scar on his chest. It stretched from his shoulder all the way down to his abs. Her hand lightly traced it. A shiver of delight crawled through her. Tears soon burned her eyes as the memory of what happened all those years ago.
Prince Scorpio squirmed for a moment. He tried to place a hand on her, but retreated. Suddenly, he lifted his ear. He quickly wrapped his arms around Lydia once more. His thumb trying to quiet her crying. “Don’t move…Pretend to be asleep.”
Lydia didn’t understand at first. Suddenly, her fox ears picked up the sound of feet coming their way. She instantly closed her eyes. Her arms wrapped around his neck. The sensation eased the ache in her heart. Tension slowly being released from her muscles. However, the lead in her stomach refused to leave.
“So…What should we do about these two grandpa?”
—----------------------------------(Somewhere else in the caverns)----------------
Eva groaned loudly. She rubbed her butt as she got up slowly. She shook her clothes vigorously to get the sand off her clothes. “Man, what a drop.” She could still recall what happened on that day. The sand had buried her for a few moments. It pushed all the way down until she hit something solid beneath. Thankfully, there wasn’t a lot of sand in her lungs.
She looked around to see if anyone else had fallen through as well. She had to glare hard for there was barely any light except for the crystals that glowed a blue-green hue. Then, she saw a shadow slither over to her. Eva almost screamed until the shape took the form of none other than Spirit.
The Philian brushed the sand off his dress. His eyes narrow in frustration. He took a few more minutes to shake the sand away. Finally, he took his dress back on. Spirit looked at Eva. Relief sent through his eyes. Glad to see you’re safe, he gestured.
Eva smiled. “Yeah.” Then she looked around. “I hope Lydia’s ok…Let’s find the others.” She was only a few feet away from the tall alien when she spotted a dark green object on the ground. Eva went to pick it up. “Ishtar!”
—---------------(Back to Lydia)------------------------
Lydia tried to even out her breath, but she was still unsure what was going on. What are they? Why did they attack her and Prince Scorpio? Well…I did attack one of their own. So, they must be really ticked off right now.
“Well…Let’s talk to them for starters.” The voice that just spoke was a bit rough, but held a gentle side to it. “Come on, youngn’, I know you’re awake. I heard your breathing change.”
Lydia refused to open her eyes. She didn’t want to bring any danger to her or Prince Scorpio. However, the word deceiver rang in her head. She let out a frustrated sigh and opened her eyes. The room around them was lit in simple candle light. Lydia let out a hiss of frustration. Her sight was too tender for this kind of lighting.
“I see that my grandson had put too much glowgrub spit in your dart. How are you feeling?”
Lydia’s eyes adjusted to the light. The room was small. Almost as big as her apartment. A few crystals hung above the ceiling in silky baskets. She slowly inched herself up. Her neck ached as it stretched to see who was there. The sheets on top of them were also made of the same material as the baskets. Lydia turned to Prince Scorpio. The Crog gave her an annoyed look and moved his arms. She managed to get up for a few seconds before nausea hit her. Not again! Lydia covered her mouth, slinking back down.
“Curse it all!” There was a shuffling followed by a smack. “Argin! How many times do I have to tell you?! Don’t go heavy on the spit! Now you made the poor girl sick!”
“Ow!” The second voice sounded more child-like. “Graaaandpa! She was attacking Qu! If I didn’t act, she might’ve killed him!”
Lydia took a deep breath. “Y-you ambushed us and took Blazing Stars. Plus you were the ones trying to harm Prince Scorpio.”
Prince Scorpio tried to raise his head but he fell out of the bed. “You did whaaaat?!” He struggled to get up but he was only able to lean against the wall so Lydia was able to see the top half of him.
“Your little friend is fine,” said the one called grandpa. A few footsteps began to sound closer to Lydia’s side of the bed. “What name do you go by, young lady?”
Lydia flinched a little. Her tails stood on end. “L-Lydia…”
“Well Lydia, can you roll towards me without feeling too sick?”
Lydia obeyed the voice. She rolled slowly. A small “o” formed on her lips. In front of her was a creature that was about Aikka’s height. His ears were made entirely out of crystals. He looked like a Star-nosed Mole, his tentacled nose twitched around. Copper skin gleamed in the light.
The old man chuckles. His dark brown robes flapped along with his laughter. “I take it you’ve never seen the likes of us before?” He laughed again when Lydia shook her head. “My name’s Cupuino. Before I can explain, I want you and your lover to answer a few questions for me.”
Lydia and Prince Scorpio froze at those words. Lydia’s face went beet red. “Lovers?! Eh-Uh-h-hold on a minute! What makes you say that?”
Cupuino pointed at Prince Scorpio. “He was holding on to you for dear life. Same with you. It was almost impossible to separate the two of you.”
Prince Scorpio was about to protest when he made a gurgling sound. “Oh no!” He soon heaved on the floor.
—-------------(Rush, Sagittarius and Aikka)----------------------------------------
Rush groaned. His head took most of the fall. It gave him a while to realize that he’s literally upside down. He swung his legs and corrected his alignment. He shook the sand from himself. Rush tried to call out to the other crew members but soon realized that his mouth had sand in it.
“Rush?” Prince Aikka’s voice was close by. Before long the Nourasian Prince ran to him with Sagittarius by his side. “Are you alright?”
Rush rubbed his head. “Kinda…Not as bad as the time Toros wiped me out, but most of my bones are in place.” He grunted as he got up.
Aikka shook his head. “How did we get separated from the others so quickly? We were barely a mile apart.”
Sagittarius fiddled with his ears for a moment. “Well, sand is a very loose soil. The creature was more apt than we are.” He looked up at the roof. “The sand must’ve funneled through the cave roof. Mostly to recycle waste or utilize it for another purpose. We probably got caught in them before we had any clue.”

Aikka and Rush stared at him in shock. Eyes were wide. Jaws dropped to the floor.
Sagittarius drooped his ears. “Sorry. I get a little carried away sometimes.” He fiddled with his fingers. He slowly scanned the area. There was a never-ending field of crystals around them. Suddenly, something blue stood out in a cluster of green crystals. He picked it up. “Oh…dear…We better hurry and find Lydia.”
—------------------(Lydia)-------------------------------------------------------------
Lydia started to gradually feel better. She answered the questions with ease. Except for the girlfriend questions that Cupunio and his grandson hammered her with. She was even able to sit up. Right now she was enjoying a cup of tea made from grounded Stone Cactus. It gave a sweet tinge that relieved most of her symptoms. “Mmmm! This is great!”
Cupunio laughed. He was sitting in a chair that was in the farthest corner of the room. “I’m glad you’re doing well. I do apologize about what my grandson and his friends put you through.” His smile went into a frown. “It’s just…survival here is tougher than you can possibly imagine.”
Lydia stared at him confused. Her fox ears twitch. “What do you mean?” She looked around the room. “You’ve got so much material. Even the water was pristine.”
Argin scoffed. He was sitting on the floor in a disgruntled manner. His silver skin sparkled against a fire made by Blazing Stars. The little lizard eating a treat next to him. “Problem is that we can’t drink it. Not without the Monarch's permission anyway.”
Lydia raised a brow. “The Monarch?” Something about those words sent shivers down her spine. Her tails fluffed out.
“He leads our planet,” Cupunio answered. “Along with several others of course. He controls monsters that we call the warped. You don’t see them yet, but they patrol our borders. Even when he leaves the planet for certain errands.”
“Sounds like a pleasant fellow,” Prince Scorpio said. Sarcasm dripped from his voice. “How did he come to power?”
“No one knows,” Cupunio answered. “He just appeared one day when our monarch was killed.”
Lydia leaned forward. “What does he look like?”
“Thin, wear a black cloak.” Cupunio scratched his head. “Might’ve been taller than you, but smaller than a Crog.”
“Does he carry any weapons?”
“A scythe!” Argin shouted. He knocked a basket over, the crystals spilling onto the floor. “Ooops! Anyway, I once saw it used before on some bandits that got desperate and well…” He shuddered. “Let’s just say they were used as an example.”
Prince Scorpio grunted as he shifted to stand. He was able to sit on top of the bed. Next to Lydia. “Graaaannnd. How long before those collections start?”
“In about a few days,” Cupunio got up from his spot and coughed. Argin immediately stood by his side. “Forgive me. I’ve been battling an illness for a few days. Argin, why don’t you get some things ready? The bags are in the cupboard along with the metal we found. Get some cloaks too.” He looked at Blazing Stars. “Also, give this young man his lizard back.”
Argin looked as though he wanted to protest about something, but kept quiet. He handed Blazing Stars to Prince Scorpio. Argin went up the stairs with a soured expression on his face.
Lydia and Prince Scropio looked at each other for a moment. Lydia soon noticed that Prince Scorpio was starting to look better than he was before. His ears didn’t droop as much. Even his breath no longer reeked. However, his body still held the scent of sickness. I wonder if we can have a chance to bathe before we go, she thought. She mentally shook herself. No! We need to find the others! Lydia turned to Cupunio. “Did anyone see any outsiders like us?”
“Outsiders?” Cupunio raised his head to the ceiling. “Not that I recall. What do they look like?”
Lydia took a moment to think before she talked. “Well…There are two Crogs aside from Prince Scorpio-”
Cupunio’s eyes widened. “A prince?!” He bowed to Prince Scorpio. “Forgive me, your majesty! I-”
Prince Scorpio raised his hand. “It’s quite alright. You’ve probably don’t see my kind too often. I’m just glad you actually gave me something that…uh…” His ears drooped in embarrassment. “Made me stop tossing my stomach.”
Lydia sighed. “May I continue?” Upon seeing the nods, she relayed her information once again. “There’s a Philian that goes by the name of Spirit. A Nourasian Prince. A Byrian and several stone creatures like Blazing Stars.”
Kaboom!
The room shook upon impact. Crystals scattered around the floor. Tables and plates rattled by the vibrations. Lydia sat upright, her tails puffed out and straightened. Her fox ears flicked with annoyance. “What now?!”
—------------(Earlier, elsewhere in the caverns)----------------
Eva and Spirit went down a visible path. They had to be careful of the sharp crystals that stuck out in every direction. Eva was lucky enough to miss them by just a hair. Eva looked down at Ishtar as they made their way down to a river. Her fingers wrapped gently around it. “I hope we find Lydia soon. We’re going to need Ishtar to get out of her.
Spirit tapped Eva’s shoulder and pointed to the river. At least we found a supply of water for the next trip, he gestured. He nervously glanced back at the water. I hope.
Eva gave a small smile. She folded her arms. The cold stone made her shiver. “You know. I’m kinda glad you’re on this trip with us.” She took note of his startled stare. “No. I’m serious.” Suddenly, she noticed something. She raised her hand against her brow, eyes squinting. “What’s that?”
Spirit followed Eva’s gaze. Eyes narrowed. He soon saw robed figures carrying something in their arms. Swaying about were lanterns that gave off an eerie green glow. He nearly had a heart attack upon seeing their ships being dragged by a large anteater-like creature. Spirit immediately gestured to Eva about the details.
Eva stared in shock. “What?! The ship? How are they carrying it?” A shriek filled the air. Eva’s heart stopped. In a cart made out of pure stone was G’dar. The giant Nourasian beetle was tied down by a thick set of ropes. It let out more roars than ever. The cart rattled with each impact of the head. “G’dar!” Eva tried to run over but Spirit stopped her.
We don’t know anything about this planet. He pointed to the figures once more. Let’s follow them and see what they’re up to. They might lead us to the others.
Eva was silent for a moment. She looked at Ishtar once more. The stone boar has yet to wake up. Symphony and Alon were nowhere to be seen. Aikka, Rush and Saggitarius were somewhere in the caverns. Eva gritted her teeth. “Fine. But if they so much as hurt G’adar…” Eva stomped down the path. Her rage was barely concealed.
The two made their way through the shadows. Stony slopes slick with water as they got closer to the river’s edge. Eva nearly slipped in. Her fingers grabbed Spirit’s thin arm. They had to duck a few times as one of the figures would turn his head around every once in a while. An exchange of voices were barely heard between G’dar screaming and the roar of the river.
As they went deeper into the caverns, the colors of the crystal turned to shades of purples and blues. They soon came across a town that was only ten feet from them. Eva and Spirit stared in shock at the sight before them. Buildings made of green crystal rose high. Roof of robin egg blue sparkled in the light of the torches. Sounds of crunching and grinding faintly heard.
“Woah…” Eva breathed. “What is this place?”
—--------(Aikka, Rush and Sagittarius)-------------------
It had seemed like hours for them to find the ship. Let alone G’dar. Aikka couldn’t help but feel worried that his beetle was injured or worse. He was glad that he had his blade on him. Right now, his bow and arrows were smashed to pieces after they found them in a small pile of sand. Aikka turned to Rush. “Find anything?”
Rush huffed out. He shook his beard of sand. “Not a single piece of metal or any stone figurines in this pile.” He nearly screamed as Sagittarius’ hand popped out of a nearby pile.
“Plugh!” Sagittarius coughed out the sand. He shook himself, spreading sand. “Trying swimming in the sand. I didn’t find a ship part. I think we should consider that a good thing.” His ears drooped. “If it’s damaged beyond repair, we're as good as stuck.”
Before Aikka could say anything, he heard a screech in the distance. A sound he was all too familiar with. “G’dar?” He ran to the noise with Rush and Sagittarius behind. Aikka peeked over a large cluster of blue crystals to see G’dar fighting off the thick rope around his body. Next to G’dar was their ship. The vehicle was intact but there were a few dent in them.
Rush sighed. “Well, at least our ticket out of here is still in one piece.”
Aikka gritted his teeth as a loud whip rang in the air. He pulled out his knife. Suddenly, he was held back by Sagittarius.
“Prince Aikka.” Sagittarius kept his voice surprisingly low despite his large size. “We need to be careful. We don’t know what we’re up against. If we rush in now, we could wind up prisoners. Or worse.”
Aikka was silent for a moment. Then, he put his weapon away. He sighed. “Alright. However, we’ll need to follow them. They might lead us to Eva and the others.”
Rush and Sagittarius nodded in agreement. The trio soon followed the strange inhabitants as best as they could. Sounds of a river entered their ears. Rumbles were heard from above. It was soon followed by a roar. They froze momentarily, gazing around in case the worm-like monster came back.
After a while, they saw a city loom out before them. The glittering walls almost gave an inviting look. Statues at the front gate appeared to resemble the very same worm that attacked them. They watched as the inhabitants marched to them. Suddenly, one of them blew a whistle. It produced no sound.
“Yoewch!” Sagittarius grabbed his ears in pain. He crouched down as best as he could.
Aikka and Rush did their best to hide him as one of the robed figures turned in their direction. Their backs plastered against a purple crystal. It slowly turned black upon contact. Several spikes suddenly appeared and jabbed into their skin, making it harder to stay quiet.
“What was that?” One of the figures said.
“Probably some baby snake mole that got too close to the Vikra Crystals. Let’s get this moving before the Monarch has a fit with us.”
The gate opened wide. The grinding stone echoing into the air. The figures marched forward. Their steps are almost in sync with each other. G’dar only let out grumbling noises as he was pulled away with the ship.
Aikka grimaced as he slowly pulled the crystal out of his arm. He bit his lip so hard that blood was starting to leak from it. He peeked from his hiding place. His blue gaze soon landed on the gate and two very familiar faces. “Molly!” The name came out as a harsh whisper. His arm stung greatly as he made his way to Eva hiding behind one of the doors. “What are you doing here?”
Eva almost threw a fist at Aikka but managed to pull back in time before giving the blow. “Aikka?” She let out a sigh as she saw Sagittarius and Rush head over to them. Both giants grabbed their arms in pain. “I’m so glad to see you guys,” she whispered. “Have you seen Lydia?”
Eva shook her head. She held up Ishtar. “I did find her though. I bet Prince Scorpio has her somewhere.”
“Well, aren’t you a clever one.”
Everyone jumped and turned. Aikka raised his weapon. Eva raised her fists. Rush and Spirit glared. Sagittarius’ ears flickered with anger. Standing before them was General Leo. His suit was slightly torn up around the sleeves, but he remained steady. On top of his head was Symphony, the little bird hopping from one branch to another.
“You!” Sagittarius growled. He put up his fists. His footing in a fighter’s position.
General Leo looked at him with mock amusement. “Well…Well…I guess traveling with this pathetic lot finally gave you a spine. I guess I wasn’t the only one to find this place.” He looked up at the gate. His eyes shifted in a way that showed that he was grinning. He went back to the group. He pointed to Symphony. “This little birdie here landed on my lap after the fall. She sensed her mistress here. No doubt Prince Scopio as well. How about a deal?”
Everyone blinked. A ruthless Crog general that was chasing them mercilessly was now asking to make a deal with them. Rush was first to break the silence. “What?! You can’t be serious.”
Eva moved forward. She gripped Ishtar as best as she could. “Why would we be willing to make a deal with you?” She gritted her teeth.
General Leo chuckled. He crossed his arms. “Do I really have to explain it to you? You need your ship, he needs his bug and I need to bring my prince back home. For plus, you’re going to need more than fists and a little knife.” Before anyone could say anything, he pulled out a sword. The blade was blood red with dark markings on it. It curved slightly at the tip. It was the average length of a regular sword but it was as big as Rush’s arm. He dug the blade into the earth. “So? Truce?”
Symphony hovered over to Eva. Her eyes filled with concern. The little hummingbird moved closer to Eva. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he won’t pull anything on us later.” She soon perched on top of Eva’s shoulder.
Eva looked at Aikka for a moment. She let out a low growl of frustration. Once, Spirit stopped holding her back. “Fine, but on one condition.”

Chapter Text

“Where’s Prince Scorpio and the weird beast?!” Leo’s harsh voice vibrated through the house. “We know they’re here!”
“Her name’s Lydia!” Eva’s growl was equally loud. Her footsteps were thundering across the ceiling. “Get that right!”
Lydia immediately got up from bed. She walked over to the stairs until her foot stepped on one of her tails. She cried out as she fell. In the process, she knocked several things over. Lydia sighed. She grumbled a few Nourasian words under her breath until she was able to reach the top floor.
Before her was what seemed to be the living room. Several crystals that were shaped like furniture sat in one corner of the room. However, one table seems to be split in two. To the right a large hole opened before Lydia along with several faces that she was glad to see. Eva had her hands around the large arm of General Leo. The Crog was holding young Cupunio upside down, flailing about.
“Put him down,” Lydia shouted. She unleashed her tail and smacked Leo. With her other tail she set Cupunio down. Lydia sighed once again. Her fox ears drooped slightly. She was soon met with hugs by Ishtar, Alon and Symphony.
“Mistress!”
“Miss Lydia!”
“Lydia!”
Lydia smiled. Her tails wagged. Her arms wrapped around them. Tears in her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re ok.”
Eva ran over to Lydia. Spirit was kneeling down and patted Lydia’s head. Rush and Aikka came over with contented smiles on their faces. Their moment of happiness was interrupted by the sounds of grunting that was coming up the stairs. They all turned to see Prince Scorpio being supported by Argin.
General Leo cocked his head. His one yellow eye is in pure surprise. “Ah Scroprio, good to see you. I haven’t seen you this ill since your disappearance. Found yourself another girl?’
“Shut up,” Prince Scorpio growled. He leaned back against the wall. He tried to look menacing but the droop in his ears couldn’t hide the fatigue he’s trying to fight off. On his head, Blazing Stars peeked between the ears. The little lizard hopped off and crawled over to Lydia.
Blazing Stars shuffled his claws nervously. “H-hello…Are you my fellow kin?”
Ishtar, Symphony and Alon all went down. They stared at him in pure shock. After a moment of silence, Symphony was the first to hug Blazing Stars. Ishtar and Alon soon followed.
Eva’s eyes sparkled at the sight. A squeal escaped her lips. “So cute!”
Lydia knelt down. Her tails laid on the floor. “Blazing Stars, I’d like to introduce you to Ishtar, Alon and Symphony. They were carved before you did.” Her ears flicked upward as she heard heavy footsteps. A screech only a few feet away from them. Lydia slowly got up.
Eva stared at her in confusion. “What’s wrong?’
Lydia returned Eva’s stare. “Where’s Sagittarius?” A heavy thud answered her question. She turned to see Sagittarius wheezing hard. Ears drooped down and clutching his knees. “Sagittarius!”
Aikka faced Sagittarius. To his surprise, a familiar giant beetle joined them. “G’dar!” He embraced his insect. His smile grew large with each second.
Sagittarius slowly got up. His breathing didn’t even out. He began to flail his arms around. He shook his head for a moment. Then, he began to hand gestures that were almost hard to read. He pointed to his right.
Spirit’s eyes widened. He slowly got up. He soon gestured. We need to go. Sagittarius’ distraction will end in about ten minutes.
Everyone tensed up as a faint rumbling was heard in the distance. Cupunio screamed and ran back downstairs with his grandfather. Both of them jumped over Prince Scorpio. The rest of the group ran out of the house. They saw what looked like a strange creature made of crystal moving in their direction. It let out a massive roar that shattered several windows.
Lydia’s ears perked up. “Sagittarius! What did you do?”
Sagittarius’ ears drooped. “Let it be known that part of that fool-hardy scheme was General Leo’s idea. I had to improvise!” He got up from his spot. “I had to knock several items over and create a series of small explosions from chartreuse-colored crystals. Then, I cut the ropes from G’dar and ran!”
“What about the ship?” Eva was on the verge of yelling into his ears. Her teeth gritted.
Sagittarius groaned. “It was too heavily guarded. I nearly got skewered by a set of large spikes.” He held up his arm, a piece of armor broken. “I was lucky that it didn’t pierce my skin!”
Aikka immediately got onto G’dar. He gave his hand to Eva to help her up. “We best head out while we still can. We can rethink another plan of getting out of here.”
Rust tried to pull out his weapon, but it hit a nearby house. The impact met by screams. He cringed and scratched his beard. “No complaints here.”
As Rush clambered up, Lydia ran back inside to get Prince Scorpio. She could see her familiars staring up at her in confusion. She picked them up with one tail. Lydia spotted the Crog prince staring at her with great confusion.
“What’s going on now?” Prince Scorpio tried to get up, but he only slumped back down.
Lydia didn’t want to leave Cupunio and Argen alone, but she couldn’t stay long. If they get discovered, it might put the two locals in harm’s way. She extended her tails and picked him up with ease. He let out a shocked cry and struggled for a moment. “Sagittarius cause a distraction, but our window of getting out of here is small. We need to take it now.”
Prince Scropio didn’t say anything. He looked back down the stairs for a moment. Then, he nodded to Lydia.
Lydia shifted her tails. Her cheeks burned as Prince Scorpio was drawn four inches from her face. She quickened her pace and set him on G’dar’s back. Just as she was about to hop on, a crystal shard about the size of a football shot past her. Lydia saw the crystal monster getting closer. She hopped on just as G’dar took flight. The wind whipping her hair.
They were only a few feet in the air when something exploded in front of them. Dozens of crystals rained from above. Some even went as far as scratching their arms. Nets and spears tried to come at G’dar. Aikka retaliated by unleashing a barrage of spells that would slow them down. It managed to leave a small opening closer to the gates.
Eva’s eyes lit up. “We’re going to make it!”
Suddenly, a giant shadow slithered through the buildings. It rose before them. A face of a fox-like creature appeared before them. Red lines ran down its body. Nine black tails wrapped around them. Then, it opened its jaws wide and swallowed them whole. Screams were drowned out in the darkness.
—--------------(A few hour later)-------------------------------
A cool sensation was felt underneath her paws. Lydia felt her tails and wrist bound together. What made it even more strange was the fact that she was muzzled. She squirmed for a bit. The firm back of Prince Scorpio gave her a sense of relief. She groaned as pain entered her ribs. Suddenly, she was held upright. Her hair pulled from her head.
Light burst into her sockets. Lydia tried to bite off a scream of surprise. My eyes! My eyes are burning! She began to grow uneasy as her vision adjusted to the light. She glanced around. To her relief, her friends were close by. G’dar was heavily chained to one wall.
“So…” A harsh voice verberated through the throne room. “After all this time, there’s still one little Silverpelt left after all.”
Lydia’s fur stood on end. Her tails fidgeted, trying to break free. Her eyes grew wide as she saw what was standing before her. It was a thing from nightmares.
A throne stood before her. Carved in pure red crystal. A lone figure sat on it. He was fox-like with red robes draped onto him. Four red eyes peered at her in a red-orange mask. Nine black tails rested on an armrest. His hand held a massive whip. Fox ears twitched every once in a while. Red veins pulsed along the black fur.
Lydia’s throat went dry. She heard several groans behind her. Lydia got onto her feet and tried to shuffle over to protect Eva and Aikka. The grip on her hair only grew tighter. One finger even scrunched up one of her fox ears.
“Leave her alone!” Ishtar growled from her small cage. It hung above the throne along with the other three. She banged her snout against the bars. Then, she was met with an electric shock.
“Ishtar!” Lydia’s scream was slightly muffled by her muzzle. She pulled her arms, but the bonds refused to break. Her eyes went back to the figure. A growl escaped her throat.
A sigh came out of the mask. “Now that nonsense is settled, I suppose I should introduce myself.” He bowed. “I’m The Monarch. Ruler of this planet. Everything that is brought down here belongs to me.”
“Yeah right!”
Lydia turned to see Eva got up from her spot. The young human girl had her arms bound behind her back. Eva was soon struck from behind by a whip.
Eva gritted her teeth. A bright red line lined the small of her back. She was on the ground for a moment. Then, she slowly got up again and took a deep breath. Eva flashed the monarch a grin. “That all ya got?”
The Monarch remained in his seat. He didn’t say anything, but some of his fur began to stand on end. His tails twitched so quickly that no one would notice. “Impressive. You’re quite a sturdy human. I suppose that’d be no surprise since you’ve raced aliens before.”
Something about those words made Lydia’s skin crawl. How could he know about Eva’s race, she thought. It was to be top secret even on her own planet! Lydia heard something behind her. Her heart skipped a beat as Prince Scorpio got up from his spot.
Prince Scorpio glared at the Monarch. His ears twitched in irritation. “What do you want with us?”
The Monarch was silent for a moment. He tilted his head. His fingers twitched against the armrest. He stalked over to Prince Scorpio. His head was so close that Lydia could practically smell blood on his breath. A small sniffing noise was heard through the mask. Then, he stalked away from the young Crog Prince and sat down.
The Monarch snapped his fingers. A young guard came rushing in. The warrior had rose quartz for armor. A spear of copper gleamed in the light of the torches. He slowly turned to the guard. “Bring us the two criminals. They’ll need to be here for the final trial.”
The guard drew back his lips into a thin line. He looked at Lydia, the rest of the crew and back to the Monarch. Then, he hustled out of the room.
The Monarch glanced back at Prince Scorpio. “I remember you.” Something about his voice sent chills down Lydia’s spine. “You were that little black speck I saw when I was out hunting.” He chuckled. “You’ve just seemed to grow more as a large ink blot.”
Prince Scorpio was confused for a moment. However, it didn’t stop him from getting up. He stared at the Monarch for a long time.
The Monarch groaned. “Not too bright are you?” He got onto his fox feet. “Typical Crog behavior. Perhaps this’ll jog your memory.” He took off his mask and cape. A black tunic with free-flowing pants were the only things he wore. Cracking filled the air as the creature shifted before them. Tails extended. Red patterns became more visible. Four eyes glared at them. In his place was a creature that was almost as big as G’dar.
Prince Scorpio’s eyes went wide. His ears were pinned against his head. “You…”
Lydia twisted her head hard. Without even thinking, she headbutted the guard holding her hair. She leaped in front of Prince Scorpio and the others. A low growl erupted from her throat. Fox ears pinned back.
The Monarch only laughed. “So, little Lydia has grown a spine after all this time?” He gave a wicked grin that even made General Leo nervous. “Just as foolish as your father.”
Rush grimaced at this. “What in the stars is he talking about?”
A loud thud of the door resounded. Two guards burst in. Both of them holding onto Argen and Cupunio. Argen thrashed and screamed at the top of his lungs. Cupunio barely kept his eyes open, his body covered in bruises.
Lydia stared in shock. “Argen! Cupunio” Her voice was muffled through her muzzle. She frantically pulled at her restraints with all her might. She growled. Her head was shaking violently. Her tails slammed hard. Before she could do anything else, she was knocked into the wall by a large paw. Pain erupted from her skull to her back. A ringing erupted into her ears.
“Lydia!” Prince Scorpio got to his feet once more. He flinched as a strange sensation drilled into his chest.
Lydia groaned. She got up but her arms were held up by several guards. She watched as the Monarch put his mask back on as he shrunk down to his size.
“So annoying.” He grumbled. He grabbed her muzzled face. His grip was so tight that it forced Lydia to look the Monarch in the eyes. “You try to be such a noble protector. Yet here you are as a worthless pup that can’t have better control of your powers.” Without warning, one of his tails shot forward and stabbed Cupunio in the stomach.
The crew stared in shock. Cupunio’s eyes widened in pain. Only a heartbeat could be heard. The crew watched as Argen fell to his knees as the black tail pulled away. Cupunio tried to cover the wound, but the blood seeping out betrayed him.
“Grandpa!” Argen screamed. He yanked his arm away from the guard’s grasp and ran to his grandfather. Sobs soon wracked the room.
Aikka gritted his teeth. The Nourasian Prince got onto his feet. “What is the meaning of this?! I thought you were going to put them on trial!”
“They were.” The Monarch’s voice held a heavy annoyance. He didn’t even bother to look at Aikka. “Anyone who didn’t report their findings to me is considered an act of treason. Plus, these findings are the younglings that I’ve longed to have a personal ‘meeting’ with for a long time.”
Lydia felt his claws dig deeper into her cheeks. Hot blood began to trickle down her neck. “Ow! You’re hurting me!” She tried to kick him, but she received a blow to the stomach. She slumped down to the floor. More kicks soon came after. Each one was more painful than the last. Her muffled screams drowned out the rustling of chains. Her friends’ muffled shouts of letting her go.
More of Lydia’s ears rang. This hurts, she thought. She moved her head to see Argen still crying. The little alien got up to his feet only to be knocked down by one of the guards. A mixture of rage and sorrow filled her heart. I have to do something. At this rate everyone will be killed. She felt her head being slammed against the wall. Her world exploded into thousands of colors. But…what can I do? I can…barely…break free…
A rush of heat caressed her body. Lydia flinched. She tried to curl up but the pain in her ribs made it unbearable. Then, Lydia felt being picked up. A wall of warmth coming over her. She could make out a molten glowing orb staring at her. As she focused, she realized they were two.
Prince Scorpio was holding her in his arms. Despite his large fingers, he was able to get Lydia’s muzzle off with ease. He then removed the restraints from his tail. His black body was riddled with strange orange markings. They were lined in a way to resemble flame. “Are you alright, Lydia?”
Lydia was stunned. She couldn’t explain it, but she could feel her heart almost be in sync with his. She nodded. “The others,” She said. “What about-” She soon spotted flames flickering around the room. Lydia looked around to see Eva and the others getting up from their spot. Their chains had completely melted off. The Monarch laid on the ground unconscious along with several guards.
Further away from them, the doorway that Cupunio, Argen and the guards went through was smashed. A large hole was created, big enough for G’dar to run through. Standing beside it was a massive lizard with more horns on his head and spikes ran along his back. Alon, Ishtar and Symphony were all sitting on top of the horns. Faint shouts were heard on the eastern side.
“We gotta go!” Eve looked around for anything to use as a weapon. She soon picked up the nearest spear.
Prince Scorpio let Lydia down with ease. His eyes were unable to move away from hers. His ears flicked.
Lydia noticed Cupunio was lying on top of his grandfather. Cupunio wasn’t moving. Lydia’s heart froze at this. She ran over to Cupunio and Argen. Lydia knelt down next to him. “Cupunio?” She tried to place a hand on him, only for it to be smacked away.
“This is all your fault!” Argen glared at Lydia. “If you didn’t come to my planet, my grandpa wouldn’t be like this.” He began to shake his grandfather hard. “Grandpa! Grandpa! Please get up!”
Cupunio let out a soft groan. He turned his eyes to his grandson. “Ar-Argen…You must leave…”
“I can’t!” Argen cried out. “You’re the only family I have left!”
“No…” Cupunio put a hand on Argen’s shoulder. “You must leave this planet. Staying here…would only bring you misery.”
“My friends are here! We can set up a rebellion and-” Argen’s tears only grew bigger at that point. He looked at the hallway.
“You’ll die here…along with your friends…” Cupunio turned his head to Lydia. “Mmmmmmisss Lydia…Please take my grandson with your crew.”
Lydia opened her mouth in protest, but closed it. Cupunio was right. His death was going to be inevitable. Whether here or on the ship, she thought. Tears welled in her eyes. She took a deep breath and nodded.
“NO!” Argen screamed on the top of his lungs. He thrashed and kicked as Lydia picked him up. “Let me go! Let me go! I wanna stay with grandpa!”
Lydia ignored his cries and followed everyone down the hole. She could only curl her tails around the little alien without hurting him. She tried to fight back her own sorrow. Her mind went back to her own mother. Her body lay on a cold floor somewhere, unmoving. She shook her head, focusing on the task at hand.
Lydia watched as Sagittarius ran over to a nearby hallway as debris began to fall down. She moved her tails around once more to make sure that none of it would hit Cupunio.
Sagittarius pointed. “This way! This is where they’ve stored our ship!”
“Think you can run it?” Eva asked.
“Good news is: They didn’t really gut anything, so it won’t be too much trouble.”
“And the bad news?” Rush asked. He soon spotted several guards coming at them. With a swing of his fist, he hit the nearest pillar and it tumbled in front of them.
“They…” Sagittarius’ ears drooped. “Have damaged most of our weapons. We’ll have to escape as fast as we can.” He barely dodged a guard that was thrown right into his face.
General Leo gave a facial expression similar to a smirk. “What for? I like a challenge.” He was soon met by a smack to the head by Prince Scorpio.
“If we continue to fight, we’ll end up prisoners permanently.” Prince Scorpio picked up General Leo with ease. He ignored the squirming and cursing. “Lead the way.”
Sagittarius led the group down the hallway. It stretched for a mile or so until they reached a room filled with treasure. Jewels, cloth, tapestries. Among them was the ship. So were some castle guards. Sagittarius let out a loud roar and managed to knock over at least five before six more came at him.
Rush pulled them off of Sagittarius and tossed them to the side. He found a strange looking axe. He picked it up with ease.
Eva punched the guards while Aikka performed his usual fighting techniques. The duo throws kicks and punches. Ishtar and Symphony became their shields as they grew in size.
Spirit warped, his shape melted onto the floor. He slinked around with ease. None of the warriors could catch him. Spears and swords dug into the floor. He made it to the ship. He vanished between the cracks of the door.
The ship roared to life. The engine hummed. The door hissed as it slowly opened. It hovered only a few inches off the ground.
“Time to go!” Rush yelled. He pulled off one more punch before he ran into the ship.
Everyone ran to the ship as fast as they could. Lydia taking up the rear. She struggled to hold on to a thrashing and biting Cupunio. She gritted her teeth against the pain. Argen slipped out, but Lydia grabbed him before he got far. He was about to yell at her, but she slapped him with sudden ease. “Now stop that! You’ll only hurt your grandfather more if you get hurt! The Monarch will kill you and nothing on your planet will change.”
Argen was stunned. His eyes glittered with tears. His claws held together. He momentarily turned back but the moment he was in Lydia’s arms, he gave up. His head hung low.
General Leo stared at Prince Scorpio. “You’re not really thinking of going with them are you?”
Prince Scorpio began to twitch. His nine tails shrunk away. His face went back to its original shape. His breathing went heavy. “Would you rather…be stuck here?”
General Leo stared in pure shock. He watched as his prince went inside with Blazing Stars shrinking down. The little lizard crawled up to his shoulder.
Eva ran past the group. She went over to the control panel. Her fingers punched the buttons quickly. Her teeth gritted in concentration. “Come on! Come on!” The screen roared to life. “Yes!” As everyone got into their seats, Eva snatched a lever. “Hang on!”
Lydia set Argen in her lap. She took great care of putting the seat belt over them. Her tails curled around them. The force of the ship caused her to lean back slightly as it began to lean forward. She could hear metal scrapping hard beneath them. Lydia wrapped around the boy.
Each sharp turn jolted the crew from side to side. A few loud pings echoed across the hull. Outside, the ship performed sharp turns and dives as it maneuvered through the castle. Then, it reached a pair of iron doors loomed before them.
“Eat this!” Eva slammed her fist on a large red button to her right. Before long, the ship began to go into breakneck speed. Everyone in back screamed at this.
“Someone get the cannons!” Aikka yelled.
“On it,” Rush yelled. He undid his seatbelt and ran to the door on the west side.
Before long, energy blasters soon appeared. They exploded upon impact, the iron door had a large hole in it. Big enough to slip through with ease. The city was beginning to shrink with every passing minute.
Everyone let out a sigh. Spirit peeled himself off his chair, his whole body vibrating. Prince Scorpio slumped in his chair. Blazing Stars also followed his master, almost ready to roll off. Alon, Ishtar and Symphony were hiding inside the thick fur of Lydia’s tails. Alon was the one who shivered the most. General Leo and Sagittarius both sat in their seats, stunned at what they had just witnessed. Aikka unbuckled his seatbelt and went over to comfort G’dar.
“Eva…” Aikka’s voice sounded tired and slightly shaken.
Eva laid her head against the consoul. “Yeah?”
“Dont…” Aikka gave a crooked smile. “Ever do that again.”
Eva chuckled. “Can’t make any promises.”
General Leo grunted. “Don’t celebrate yet. We still need to get out of here.”
Lydia listened for any sounds. She slowly uncurled her tails. They slowly drifted down to the floor. Fur still on end. She even began to sniff. Smells of blood, sweat and fear hang in the air. She looked down at Argen.
Argen was only breathing heavily. His hands wrapped tightly around hers. His mole head leaned back. Shock still hung in his eyes.
Lydia unbuckled her seatbelt and set Argen down on the floor. This time, she had him face her. “Argen…Please Argen. You need to help us out. You’re more familiar with the tunnels and cave system of your planet.” When she was met by silence, she hugged him. “I know what it’s like to lose family.” Lydia trembled at the memory of her mom being lifeless, struggling to breath.
Eva looked on at the two. She knew exactly what Lydia meant. She walked over to the two. “Argen. When we’re far away, we can perform the funeral rites you do on your planet, ok?”
Argen was silent for a moment. He looked at his hands. Then, he sighed. “Promise me to find me a home after this.” He got onto his feet. “I want a place that’s Monarch free.” His voice shook as he spoke those words. He walked over to the screen as Eva sat back down on the seat. “Just follow my instructions and speed up when I say so, got it?”
Eva gave a grin. “Got it, little man!”

Chapter Text

Eva strained her ears as she listened to Argen’s instructions. The boy was sitting on the floor. Alon curled around his wrist, trying to comfort him. Argen tried to relay all the details of the tunnels that lead to the surface. They’ve bumped into a few hazards, but they were nothing compared to the Monarch. Before long, they had managed to get back into space.
Eva sank into her chair. “Finally…It’s over.”
“For now at least,” Aikka added. “We don’t know if they have ships that are up and running. If they do, The Monarch might come after us.” He gently rubbed his beetle’s head. G’dar cooed softly under his touch.
Eva leaned back into her chair. Her hands on her stomach. “Well I think it’s time for some comfort food right now.”
Prince Scorpio cocked his head. “Do you think that’s wise?”
Rush got out of his chair. “Works for me. We’re a good distance away. Might as well check to see if anything was taken out while we were away.” He walked away. His large body moved deeper into the hull.
A growl echoed around them. All eyes soon landed on Prince Scorpio. His ears drooped in embarrassment. “By Kroooommm! I haven't eaten anything since…” He looked at Argen. He slowly got up. “Will anyone volunteer to take me to the kitchen?”
“Mistress will!” Ishtar chirped before anyone could say anything. She began to nudge Lydia.
“Huh?!” Lydia’s ears and tails stood on end. She got up and tried to push Ishtar. “N-now hold on. I-uh…You…he-” Her words were cut off by her own stomach. “Uggghhhh….I’m hungry too.”
Ishtar and Symphony pushed Lydia hard. They pushed so hard, that Lydia’s hindpaws squeaked on the floor. Alon just watched it all in disbelief.
Lydia was able to find some control in her feet only to crash into Prince Scorpio. Her arms wrapped around his large one. She looked up at him. Her tails wagged hard, smacking Spirit and General Leo in the process. Her face turned red with the blush. “Come on…I’ll show you.” She let go of his arm and hurried down the ship. Her ears picked up a small tinge of laughter.
Lydia and Prince Scorpio walked for a long time. She was so in thought that she almost missed the kitchen entirely. She gripped the entryway hard. Her hand outstretched. “H-here’s the kitchen. Hopefully there should be something available to us.”
The kitchen was large enough to fit all five giant aliens and a small party of humans. Only a few contents were spilled onto the floor. It had one island and a few sinks that lined the room. Spoons and forks gleamed in the light. Some plates were broken in two. Across the entryway, the fridge stood tall and proud. It’s white metal untarnished.
“I guess they were about to clean out the food before we came.” Lydia pulled on the cool metal handle. The door revealed that a few shelves contained some food. Mostly Nourasian food from their time with Aikka’s parents. She grabbed a large mango-like item and noodles. Her tails slammed the door with ease. “I’ll let Eva know that we’re going to have to find the next planet to get some supplies.”
Prince Scorpio stared at her. His eyes took in every movement she made. The twitch of her tails. Her fox ears stood tall and proud. Gray fur that started to turn silver in the harsh lights of the ship. He even found himself wanting Lydia to turn around and show him those dainty silver eyes.
Lydia did turn around. Her arms shook a bit. Would it be ok to go back to another planet? Worry began to crawl into her head. She thought of Cuppunio’s dying breath. Argen’s despair in his eyes. Aikka’s sister almost being taken away. The cold malice that was in The Monarch’s eyes. Ever since I’ve been into space…Someone gets hurt. Now…someone died and I couldn’t do anything… She placed the food on the table. I’m so stupid! Useless! Her hands balled into fists.
Prince Scorpio took in a sharp breath. His ears drooped at the sight of her. It’s annoying to see anyone sad, but he didn’t know how to help her. No one taught him how to handle these situations. Not even his own mother. He lightly tapped his finger on her head. “Now come on. Snap out of it.” His chest tightened as her eyes fell on him. “We…We managed to get off the planet. We just need a new course of action.”
Lydia pounded her fist. “Course of action?!” Her head whipped upward. Tears streamed down her face. “I couldn’t save Cupunio! I let The Monarch try to kill me and Argen! You all nearly died because I have no control of my power! I could’ve even-” Her words stopped the moment Prince Scorpio placed a hand on her head.
“That wasn’t your fault.” Prince Scorpio rubbed his thumb against Lydia’s fox ear to human ear. “We didn’t know anything about that planet or its inhabitants. Plus, you’re still learning about your power. It’s no different than picking up a weapon.” He gave an embarrassed chuckle. “You wouldn’t believe how many times I had difficulty in that.”
Lydia sniffed. She finally noticed that Prince Scorpio no longer had the orange glow or the features that made him a black fox. Strangely enough, having Scorpio here was the only comfort that she would take from it. She began to wipe her tears.
Prince Scorpio’s eyes gave a happy gleam. “There. You seem a bit better. It felt like an eternity…since we’ve last met.”
Lydia nodded. “Are…are you remembering the first time we met?”
Prince Scorpio sighed. “Now that you mentioned it…” He sat down and laid his head down. “I never got to apologize for my attitude when we were on the Kitsellas planet. Let alone for my current behavior.”
They both sat in silence for a moment. Each made a bowl of their own food. Their eyes were unable to meet each other for a moment. The sounds of chewing were the only thing that broke the silence.
Lydia could feel the exhaustion creep over her. Her mind slowly began to think back to the days were her mom would make dinner late at times. Even when Lydia pitched in, it was still late in the night. Lydia would rest her head on the table and her mother would carry her to bed or ask her to head to her room. The warm sheets. Her mother’s lullaby. Tears began to return to her eyes. Large droplets spotted the table.
Lydia swallowed hard. “I can’t take any more of this…” She sobbed. “I can’t take any more of this pain…” She clamped her hands to her head. Nine tails curled inward around her body.
Prince Scorpio stared at her in surprise. “What do you mean? Are you broken somewhere?”
Lydia sniffed. “N-no. I…I lost my mom. She disappeared from the hospital in critical condition! I’m so far away and I should be looking for her!” Her fingers dug deep into her hair. “Now here I am-” She felt warmth surrounding her. Her feet were off the ground.
Prince Scorpio held her up. His head pressed against hers. “I…know this won’t make up much for my behavior, but I think it’s best to have someone hold you right now.” His ears were still lowered. His arms cradling her without squeezing the life out of her.
Lydia didn’t say anything. Her mind was filled with sorrow over what happened the past couple of days. She pressed her head against his chest. Her sobs continued throughout the ship. Lydia couldn’t remember much after that. All she could remember was Prince Scorpio carrying her into her room. Sheets and her familiars wrapped around her exhausted body before she fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter Text

Back on earth, there was no news or development of the search for the missing humans. The afternoon sun gleamed from a nearby window. Don Wei was at home watching the news. His hand wrapped on the remote as if it was the only lifeline to the outside world. He would glance at the windows and doors every ten seconds.
Ever since that strange doctor showed up, Don couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the man. He may not be a Crog but his demeanor has been getting sinister by the day. There were times Don joined the President for discussions and Dr. Nongon was by his side. The President is starting to become uneasy with the radio silence that’s been going over a month now. The doctor even suggested to even consider taking on an offense among some of the neighbors and forgo diplomacy all together.
“What madness have we gotten into,” he muttered. He looked at the most recent photo of his daughter. The two were standing side by side under a tree. Both smiles on their faces. Eva held up her diploma as she wore her cape and gown proudly. “Eva…Please be safe…”
“We just have breaking development in the latest story!”
Don Wei snapped out of his thoughts. He turned his startled gaze at the television. He grimaced as he saw the President stand on the podium with Doctor Nongon by his side. The lower captions read: One of the missing colonists found in a laboratory on Norrix 8.
Norrix 8 was considered one of the Krog planets. It wasn’t explored well. Some people believed it was a place where the Krogs tortured their victims or stored the remains of the former inhabitants there. These were mere theories of course, but the mere idea that there was a laboratory could only mean that most of them must be true.
Don Wei paled at the screen. This can’t be good, he thought.
The news anchor’s voice sounded frightened as he was as they began to speak. “Just this evening a lone escape pod was found just a few miles from Racers City.” It flashed to a scene where a human man crawled out of a pod. “The pod opened up to reveal one of scientists of colony AB135 and is being taken to a hospital for treatment. One official had said this.”
The screen soon transitioned to a man that was no doubt a forest ranger. He wore a brown suit with a hat that bore a simple golden buckle. His expression was just as grave as Don’s. “When that man came out, his body was covered in scars. There were so many that I’m amazed that he’s able to move. I heard him scream out, ‘Black creature! It was a black creature!’ I’ve never seen anything like this since the attack from the Crogs several years ago.”
Don bit his lip. His hand clenched tightly to the remote. His eyes stared at the screen despite wanting to pull away. He’s seen Saggitarius, but he isn’t sure that the Crogs could be trusted. But if the President tries to contact them…and Sagittarius is in view… His brain didn’t even finish that thought. Because he knew the answer would destroy him. His heart hammers loudly in his chest as he watches the news shift back to the President and Doctor Nongon.
The President shut his eyes as if the light from the flashing cameras were starting to blind him. “We only have some small information about the situation, but so far there was only a record log recovered along with a broken helmet. As for their destination, it seems that our resourceful crew are now heading to the recreational planet, Songbrix. However, if the Crogs are behind these attacks, we’ll fight back using a top secret weapon that we’ve been producing.”
Don Wei jumped off the couch. “What?!” The President really has gone mad! If we attack the Crogs again, it may result in an all-out war! He turned off the T.V. “I have to warn Eva!”
At those words, there was a faint tumbling coming from upstairs. Don Wei looked up. A part of him wanted to go check it out. However, he remembered that Lydia’s mother disappeared from the hospital with no warning. A nurse was found knocked out but that was it. There was also poison found on Eva’s, Lydia’s and Aikka’s suits and they didn’t activate. He couldn’t explain it, but Don Wei had a nagging feeling this is all connected. Only one word came to his head: Run!
Don Wei moved away as quietly as he could. The thuds began to get louder and louder as they made their way to the staircase. Don slowly grabbed his phone and keys. His hand went for the knob. He turned it, hoping it wouldn’t click. He opened it slightly. To his horror, it jerked open.
—---------(Back in space)-----------------------------------------------
Lydia woke up with a yawn. She felt a bit better than she was last night. Her familiars were still curled up beside her, but she felt a strange source of heat on her stomach. Lydia looked down. To her surprise, she saw that it was Blazing Stars asleep on top of her. Her fox ears picked up a soft moan.
“Lydia,” the voice whispered. A soft purr filled the vast room. She felt a firm tug on one of her tails.
Lydia slowly moved Blazing Stars off her stomach. She lifted herself up to see Prince Scorpio asleep by the foot of the bed. Her foxtails draped over him like a giant gray blanket. He snuggled against them. His strong arms hugged one of them, taking great care not to break them. Lydia blushed at this. A smile placed on her face. What a gentleman.
She found herself thinking back to when those two were in bed together. Being pressed to his chest. Hearing his heart beating. The warmth of his arms enveloping her. It made her wish that they could’ve-No! She mentally screamed. Not appropriate! He’s a prince and you’re a human that somehow saved his life! She soon realized that Blazing Stars was on her stomach once more. The heat calmed her nerves. She found herself soon being dragged back to sleep.
Lydia didn’t know how long she’s slept but sometime laid she heard someone scream in pure fury. Then, a loud slam that made her jolt and tumble out of the bed. She got up. The familiars scrambled to get up and out of the sheets. Prince Scorpio bolted onto his feet as the tails released him, ears raised high.
“What’s going on?!” Prince Scorpio yelled.
“What time is it?” Ishtar mumbled. Her eyes were still unfocused despite being on her hooves. She let out a yawn. “I don’t see a clock nearby.”
Alon picked up the device on the desk. “9 a.m….”
Blazing Stars groaned. “So hungry…Are we gonna eat now?”
“Gaaaaahhhh!” The scream started to become easier to identify. It was Eva.
Lydia sighed. “We better go check.” Lydia got up from her bed. Her tails settled behind her neatly. She was about to go over to the dresser to have a fresh set of clothes but soon remembered that she barely had any except the one garment she had been given back in Nourasia. Not only that, but getting dressed with Prince Scorpio. The mere thought made her blush. Her fur stood on end as she shuffled over to the door. She was only halfway to the brig when Spirit stopped her.
Lydia tilted her head, confused. “Spirit? What is it?”
Spirit gestured. The President of the Earth Coalition is on the line. He’s demanding more details of progress. He pointed at Lydia’s ears.
Lydia gave a nervous laugh. “Oh…right…But Don Wei relayed our last progress right?”
Spirit nodded. His eyes were filled with concern. Last night he did, but we just got word that her father was kidnapped.
Lydia bit her lip. Her fur stood on end. “Kidnapped?”
Spirit nodded. The president already knows about your ears and tails, but I don’t think he’s ready to see…how you look now…
Lydia was a bit puzzled when he said this. She touched her ears and soon realized that there was something hard pressed against them. Lydia slowly lowered her hands to see that they were now claws at the end of her hands. She also felt for her mouth. Sharp fangs were protruding out. She also noticed that her once human feet were now fox-like as well. Lydia gulped hard. “D-does anyone have a mirror?”
A loud slam sounded farther down. Eva’s sniffling filled the room. “No…You can’t be serious. My dad can’t be taken.”
Lydia tried craning her neck to see what was going on. Even Spirit turned his head toward the brig. Concerned eyes peering at their distraught captain.
“I’m sorry, Eva.” The President’s voice floated into the room. Somehow, this put Lydia on edge. “However, we can’t ignore this mission. Head to Songbrix, refuel and head to another planet. Find another human and bring it here for questioning. Return Lydia as well. The police want to question her.” A heavy sigh filled the room. “We can’t let the Crogs take anything else from us. We must do something.” With that, the transmission ended.
Eva slammed the communications once more. A soft sobbing filled the room. Lydia, Symphony and Alon made their way over as she slouched on the controls.
Lydia gently placed her hands, or claws, on Eva’s shoulders. “I’m sorry, Eva.” She hugged him. “Let’s find him once we get back to Earth.”
“Ha!” General Leo’s voice cut through the already pained atmosphere. “That’s a laugh.” He was leaning against a wall. His eyes set in a way to show that he was smirking. “As if we can let you-” His other words were cut short as Sagittarius punched him.
Sagittarius glared at his former general. “Things are bad enough as it is! If you wish to be tossed out of this ship, I’ll gladly do so.”
General Leo glared back. “You’ve gotten pretty bold lately traitor. Why the backbone all the sudden? Your Byrian girlfriend handed you hers before she died.”
At those words, Sagittarius grabbed him and thrusted him against a wall. “Leave her out of this! She almost died because of you!” He flung his superior into a seat, breaking it in two upon impact.
General Leo growled. He threw a punch at Sagittarius which made a clean impact on Sagittarius’ face. He was about to deliver another blow when Sagittarius blocked it with all his strength. He cried out in shock as his arm was twisted with a loud snap. He headbutted Sagittarius hard, causing his opponent to fall to the floor. His foot stomped on Sagittarius’ abdomen. He repeated at least twice before Prince Scorpio stepped in.
Prince Scorpio grabbed both of them by the arm. “Stop it both of you! Have you forgotten what we need to do as of right now.” He stared down General Leo. “For now, we’re having a temporary truce on this ship. So, it would be wise not to make the situation any worse than it is.”
The two Crogs glared at each other for one last time. Ears were twitching furiously. Then, they broke apart. The two went back to staring at Eva. It seems one thing was resolved. But it seems another pile of problems still glared at them.
Eva took a deep breath. On her shoulder was Symphony. The hummingbird rubbed her head against Eva’s cheek. A purple glow surrounded them both. Eva smiled slightly, her finger caressing the tiny head. “Thanks Symphony.”
Lydia picked up Alon and sat down. “How are we on fuel?” She giggled as Ishtar and Blazing Stars crawled up her tails. The little creatures rested on her lap.
Sagittarius sunk into his own chair. “To put it mildly, we have enough fuel to get the location.” He leaned forward. His ears began to twitch. Eyes narrowed. “Hmm….”
Before Lydia could ask Sagittarius, her stomach growled. Her ears drooped. Uhh…I need to eat now…With great reluctance, she got up from her spot and carried her familiars into the kitchen. Her tails dragged behind her as if to emphasize her hunger. I better see if I can cook for everyone. She flinched at the thought. I hope I don’t burn anything.
Everyone simply watched her go. A heavy silence filled the room once more. Prince Scorpio let out a huge sigh that reflected everyone’s frustration. “Let’s head to the planet and see if we can get Lydia to control her powers.”
Spirit gave a thumb’s up. A gesture that he was thankful Lydia and Eva taught him. It relieved him as Eva giggled.
General Leo stared up at him. “You’re majesty…You can’t be serious.” He groaned at Prince Scorpio stared back at him. He went over to his chair. He sunk deeper into the cushion. The metal creaked under his weight. “The Emperor is going to have my head for this.”
—---------(The Ship’s Kitchen, a few minutes later)---------------
After burning at least four pancakes, Lydia had managed to make at least 6 stacks of pancakes for everyone to enjoy. She also took the time to eat her own stack. Including the burnt pancakes among the bunch. Lydia purred as she enjoyed the fluffy texture. Wish I had some Maple Syrup to go with this, she thought.
A sad sigh made Lydia flinch. She turned her head to see Argen walking in. The fierce alien had no spark in his eyes. His head hung low. The bags under his eyes were less appealing to see as well.
Lydia bit her lip. Guilt crawled under her skin. The memory of Cuppunio’s death hung on her mind. She wasn’t sure how to approach this child. No doubt broken and homeless as much as she was. Well, I have to try something. She went over with a plate of pancakes.
“Um…Good morning.” Lydia felt like cringing at her own voice. It was so soft and raspy that it could be barely heard. Why am I so creepy?! I’m so bad with kids! She remembered the few times that kids passed her by and called her creepy or boring. Of course she was able to have Aikka’s little sister like her, but she’s a baby. Argen must be at least ten by human years. “I’ve made some breakfast for everyone.” She presented her pancakes.
Argen stared at the food blankly. He didn’t seem the least bit interested in what was in front of him. “I’m not hungry.”
Lydia sighed. Her ears drooped. “Argen…I know this won’t help, but I know how you feel.” She set the plate down. She took a seat in her chair. Her arms began to feel heavy as she began to pick up the utensils. “My mother vanished back on my homeworld. She was sick the last time I saw her…” Tears stung her eyes. “Like Eva’s dad, she was kidnapped.” She sniffed. Her tails made a frantic effort to wipe them away. She looked at Argen again. This time, her tears just flowed out in rivers. “I’m so sorry about your grandfather…If…If I….” Her words died in her throat. Her body made a frantic effort to balance her. “If I was a bit stronger…I would’ve been able to keep everyone alive.” She soon sobbed.
Argen stared at her. His dark orbs looked back at her. Then, he lightly touched her with his mole-like claws. “It’s…not your fault…” His claws curled inward. “Grandpa was one of the few who hated The Monarch and his schemes. He tried his best to hide it. I helped out. It was only a matter of time.”
Lydia pulled him in for a hug. This time, he didn’t resist. For a while, they cried in the silence of the room for a few minutes until the last of their tears dried away. Lydia helped him into a chair and gave him a plate.
Argen raised a brow at his food. “What is this?” He poked at it with his fork.
“They're called pancakes. It’s a common breakfast food on earth. In all honesty, I’m surprised we were able to find any mix after our fiasco back on the ship.” Lydia rubbed the back of her head. A slight blush on her face. “It’s ok if you don’t like it.”
Argen sliced some pancakes with his fork. He stabbed it. Then, he delicately took it into his mouth. He chewed for a moment. His eyes instantly sparkled. “This is amazing!!” He began shoveling more of it into his mouth.
Lydia laughed. “Hey careful! You’ll choke.” She soon went back to her pancakes. The weight on her shoulders slowly melted away.
Heavy footsteps entered the room. Rush popped his head into the doorway. His eyes flashed with joy. A wide grin flashed out of his beard. He adjusted his goggles. Behind him was a tired Prince Aikka. The Nourasian Prince tried his best to smile.
Lydia handed Aikka a plate. “Were you able to get in touch with your parents? They didn’t take any of your belongings?”
Aikka shook his head. “Actually, I was able to find them in a small pile. They must’ve begun emptying the ship before we got to the treasure chambers.” He gave a heavy sigh as he sat down. “As for my parents, they're still on edge. Some of those creatures we saw back in Noursia were spotted several times. A few even attempted to kidnap several Nourasians.”
Lydia could feel her fur stand on end. Missing humans was one thing. But now there have been kidnap attempts on different alien races? She wrapped her fingers around her fork. Ears lowered down. She felt something nestle on top of her head.
Ishtar settled on Lydia’s head. Her little legs spread out, draping over Lydia’s head. She lightly tapped her head. “Don’t worry, mistress. We’ll find some answers at the next planet.” She glanced at Eva. “Right?”
Eva’s eyes were a bit distant but she still nodded. She took a forkful of pancakes. Her expression brightened up a bit. “Mmmm…Good.”
Lydia gave a small smile. However, the nagging sensation of the looming danger was hanging at the pit of her stomach. Not even a stack of pancakes makes it easier.
—-----------------(Melodalia, a random hotel)-----------------------------------------------------
A lone alien sat in her room. It was cozy. Though the pinks and pale greens made her want to claw her eyes out. Innas were more into reds and blacks. However, she did like the idea of wearing gold or gray even if it made her so weird with her pale skin.
The alien let out a sigh. “Wish there was a guy worth dating…” She mumbled to no one in particular. Her fingers rubbed against her black studded earrings that lined her pointy ears. She leaned back into her plush sofa. “Most of these guys around here just sing until they’re blue in the face.” She picked up a canned drink sitting on a table next to her.
A ring interrupts her thoughts. She picks up a small, flat square that sat in the middle of the table. Her thumb lightly pressed the center. A screen roared to life in front of her. The alien stared blankly at the screen.
In front of her was a tall figure. His face was obscured in darkness. From the lighting, he was a bit on the scrawny side. “Hello? Is this the mercenary, Hemlock?” There was something about this voice that was almost menacing to say the least.
Hemlock sighed. “Yeah. It’s me.” She let out an annoyed sight. I’m getting tired of this. Who do you want dead?” She picked up her weapon. Her fingers twirled around her ninja star.
The figure laughed. “Someone who cuts to the chase!” A sharp grin flashed. “I like it.” Something in those last words sent chills down Hemlock’s spine. A camera showed a strange ship landing on the starship docks. It zoomed in as the doors began to open. “I want you to go over to this motley crew and see what they know. I have some…sensitive information that can’t be passed along to anyone else. I’ll give you a list.”
Hemlock rolled her eyes. She raised up her hands. “No need. I have a million and one ideas of what you mean by ‘sensitive information’.” Then, she noticed something coming out. She crossed her arms as she observed them. Hemlock raised a brow at the strange crew. One was a human. One was a Nourasian. The two tall aliens walked out. Her brow cocked when she saw a foxlike alien come out. Never seen something like that before.
Hemlock stared at the screen longer. Intrigued by this strange crew. All organisms from different planets and systems. They were working together. But why? Hemlock took a swig of her drink. Just as she did so, three more large aliens walked out. She spat out her drink upon the last species to walk out of the ship. She put down her star and went into a coughing fit. “Crogs?!”
“Oh…” The figure’s image popped up at the corner of the screen. “That got your attention, didn’t it?” He laughed. “I supposed so considered those prideful beasts would never want to be around lowly scum.”
Hemlock scowled. “You better not lump in that category.” Her mind went back to the snickers and stares she’d witnessed as a child. Her kind were seen as mere mercenaries. Creatures that wander from place to place with nothing to call home. A culture dwindling by the day.
“Forgive me,” the figure said. However, his voice didn’t take on an apologetic tone. “My sense of humor isn’t very agreeable at times.”
Hemlock was skeptical about it. But…taking on three Crogs…Maybe this could change how our people are viewed. She leaned forward. I have to admit, the one with that long scar on his right shoulder is kinda cute. A smile played on her lips. “Where do I start?”

Chapter Text

Leo stretched out his limbs. He groaned loudly. “Glad to finally get out of that rickety death trap.” Just as he said this, G’dar scrambled out. He gripped his ears as a shriek filled the air. “Especially with that thing on board.” He barely got out of the way as G’dar charged forward.
“G’dar!” Aikka yelled. He ran after his beetle. “Come back!” Thankfully, the creature didn’t run too far away. It went into a basket of food that was nearby. He sighed as G’dar knocked over a cartoon of berries. He patted the carapace as a local yelled at him.
Lydia and Eva sighed. Both bowed their heads. “So much for a low profile…” Eva muttered.
Lydia’s ears drooped. “I just hope we don’t get into any more trouble.” She touched one of her tails. “That’s the last thing I want to deal with.” Her familiars soon popped out. She gave them a firm look. Her index finger in the air like a mother ready to lecture her children. “Alright guys, I need you to stay close to me in case anything happens. This planet is an entertainment district as well as a shopping center. It might cause some problems if we’re separated.”
Ishtar did a salute. “Yes mam!”
Lydia giggled as she picked them out of her tails and set them into her bag. She soon noticed that the handle was starting to get worn. She sighed. I better go look for a new bag. I wonder if there’s a market nearby. Lydia pulled out a map that the group had managed to print out before arriving. She watched every curve and block for anything that might indicate a market.
Eva leaned next to her. “Going to go shopping?”
Lydia nodded. “Want to come?” Lydia faced Eva. Her tails wagged in joy. “I’ve made a list but maybe you can buy something for yourself.”
Eva was about to answer but a small commotion was heard. She turned to see G’dar rubbing against another ship. Aikka frantically apologizes to the crew. Spirit and Rush aided him. She grimaced at the chaotic sight.
Lydia bit her lip. Her ears lifted slightly. Fox fur puffed out. “You…go on ahead…I’ll go by myself.”
Sagittarius walked over. “Let me come with you. I know I’m a little scary, but it might prevent any unwanted company.”
Leo laughed. “You? Ha! That’s rich! Like I’d lose a chance of losing track of the fugitive.”
Sagittarius growled. His ears flicked up in pure agitation. Eyes narrowed. Fists balled up. “Don’t be making threats! It was your fault that Brinnia-”
Prince Scorpio stepped between the two. Blazing Stars perched on top of his head. “Enough. Let’s all go together and try to be civil about this. If we get out of control here, there might be unwanted questions.”
Sagittarius and Leo glared at each other for a moment. Their bodies tense. Battle stances at the ready. Then, they settled down. Both crossed arms and looked away.
Lydia sighed. At least we won’t have to fight for a while. She heard a few footsteps behind her. She turned to see Argen standing behind her. His feet shuffled in reluctance. Lydia knelt down, her tails moved carefully so as not to let her familiars fall.
“Um…” He said. His fingers fiddled together. His cheeks flushed a dark green. “Can I come with? I don’t want stick around this ship.” He pointed to the chaos that went on.
Lydia smiled. She playfully tilted her head. Fox ears flicked, earning a giggle from Argen. “Sure but you’re going to have to stay close.”
General Leo groaned. He muttered something low.However, Lydia was able to hear some of the words. Mostly at the idea that they were going to do some babysitting. He stomped off with Sagittarius walking behind him.
Prince Scorpio offered his arm to Lydia. His ears drooped slightly. “Shall we?”
Lydia’s face turned red. Her fur fluffed up. She could hear her familiars and Argen giggling. This felt like something from one of the fairytales as a kid. “S-sure.” Lydia tried to hold back the shaking that threatened to ruin the moment she had been dreaming for a long time. Her arm was a mere twig when looped around his. But the warmth gave a much needed comfort.
—--------(Sometime later)---------------------------------------
Argen’s eyes widened at the sight before him. Brightly colored buildings surrounded the area. Music filled the air. Billboards showing musical instruments and tools used for every need. What Argen did love most were the plants. Yellow flowers with music note petals. Violets that shifted colors based on the lighting. There was even a tree that could whistle. “Amazing! This is beyond anything I’ve seen before!” He turned to the store keeper. “Do any of them have healing properties?”
The alien had a cheery look on his face. His diamond shaped face was graced with musical notes for hair. The thick cords ran down his head all the way to his shoulders. He wore an apron that resembled musical sheets. “Indeed we do.” His voice let out a melody with each word he spoke. He pulled one out from a box hidden behind the stand. “Here we have-” He nearly shrieked as Sagittarius came closer.
Sagittarius stared at a few white flowers that seemed to resemble an earth lotus flower that sat in one corner. “Amazing…I’ve never seen something so well cared for.” He looked at the shopkeeper. Upon seeing the frightened face, he went down on his knees and lowered his ears. “Is this yours?”
The Shopkeeper stared in stunned silence. A music note of an eyebrow arched. “Um…yes…I’ve cared for it for about 20 years.”
“Impressive! Do you happen to have any seeds this lad and I can take?”
Lydia and Prince Scropio watched from afar. Their arms were already full of groceries and parts for the ship. The duo couldn’t help but be entertained at how Argen was being cheery at the marketplace considering how glum he was only a day ago. Behind them, Leo skulked by an empty salescart. Ears lowered to his head.
Lydia grinned. “I’m glad those two are having fun. It was a good idea to let those two come along.” She shifted her bags of clothing. Lydia had to admit, it was weird how everyone stared at her and the other Crogs. But she did find their company assuring especially after a little pirate alien, Fruter, tried to steal her items. She moved one of her tails, admiring the charms that were braided into the fur. “A lot of the shop owners were really kind.”
Prince Scorpio stared at Lydia. His heart fluttered each time he looked at her. The way her tails swayed when she walked. Her human and fox ears bearing a stunning array of small earrings. Children surrounding her, wanting to touch her tails. “Probably because they’ve never seen such beauty before.”
Lydia turned to him. “What?”
Prince Scorpio’s ears lifted up. “N-nothing! Just…This must be the first time to see a Fox-like alien to them.” He mentally cursed for his poor statement. He heard a faint chuckling behind him. Prince Scorpio turned. He saw Leo with a smug look on his face. He glared back.
Before any fight could break out, Sagittarius and Argen returned to the group. Each one had seeds and a pot of flowers. Their eyes sparkled with pure joy.
Argen held up his plant. It resembled a cleft note with silver petals stretching out like a ribbon. “Isn’t this cool?! It’s supposed to help with space sickness and anxiety issues. Maybe you could use it when you're back home, Lydia.”
Lydia’s ears drooped. Her tails slowly sagged. There’s just one problem…I don’t have one. Not while I’m like this. Her eyes stung with tears at the mere idea of coming back to Earth. The stares. More whispered comments about her behind her back. Her heart couldn’t take it.
Argen’s face transformed into guilt. A frown plastered on his face. “I’m sorry. Did I say something to upset you?”
Lydia wiped her tears away. “No. It’s not that.” She knelt down and took his gift. “Thank you, Argen.” Her ears picked up a slight chuckling. For some reason it annoyed her. She side-eyed to see it was General Leo trying his best to hide his dark humor. “Anything funny, general?” Her teeth were clenched as she said those words.
General Leo gave a smug look. He ignored Prince Scorpio’s and Sagittarius’ glare. “Oh…Just find it funny how all your fellow humans will act when they see how much of an abomination you are. Well…That is if our king doesn’t turn you into a-” His words were cut short as a flash of white made contact with his face. Sending him to crash into an empty stall. His enormous body was hidden in the debris. “Ow…”
“Ha! Finally caught up with ya!”
Lydia, Prince Scorpio and Sagittarius stared in shock. Eyes wide at who they were seeing before them. A female Byrian that was dressed in a pair of overalls. Tools peaked out of the pockets. Musical note earrings dangled from her ears. Her long hair tied into a ponytail.
Sagittarius’ eyes sparkled. His ears lowered to his head. “B-Brinnia…Is…Is that you?” He lowered his stuff as he walked towards her. Hands raised. His steps were shaky, legs ready to give at any moment.
Brinnia gave a sad smile. “Hi Sagi…Sorry I took so long to find you.”
Sagittarius lifted her into his arms. He spun her around in pure glee. The local aliens gathered but they didn’t bother him in the slightest. “I’m so glad you’re alright! How did you get here? What about the poison? Do you feel sick? I’m so sorry I should’ve asked-”
Britannia rubbed his black head. Her eyes filled with laughter. “I’m ok. I’ll explain everything once we’re somewhere a little private.” She gestured to the crowd.
Sagittarius looked around. His ears drooped as he heard the familiars giggling from Lydia’s fur. “Oh…right…My apologies.” He lowered Brinnia down. However, his hands struggled to let go of those hips.
Lydia watched as an annoyed Leo pulled himself out of the rubble. He looked like he was about to say something but a single glare from Prince Scorpio made him back down. Lydia tried her best to suppress her satisfaction of Leo being put into her place. Then, she remembered something. Lydia glanced around the market. Her eyes darted to find a clock a few feet from where they were.
“We can discuss it back at the ship,” Lydia said. “It’s almost departure time.” She shifted her bundle and began to move. Suddenly, Lydia was lifted into Prince Scorpio’s arms as the ground exploded with a loud POW!
Panic soon erupted. Argen was on the ground. His knee was scraped but he cried out of pure shock. Civilians ran in multiple directions. Sagittarius picked up Argen while Brinnia raised a weapon. Leo was on his feet in mere seconds. The Crog General went west, ignoring the screaming aliens in the crowd.
Lydia stared up in confusion. Her items were in disarray. A few clothes littered the ground. “What’s happening?! What’s going on?”
Prince Scorpio held on to Lydia tightly. He could feel Blazing Stars heat as the lizard jumped from his head. He glared at the place where the shot was fired. “We’re under attack. There seems to be an assassin on this planet. No doubt the mastermind behind this insanity was no doubt informed by The Monarch after the fiasco back at Argen’s planet.”
Britannia was quick to throw in more details. “They tried to shoot with a Nimpharian Sniper Rifle. The bullets that come out of those things will finish you off before you could scream.”
Lydia’s fur bristled. Her hands gripped tightly. She looked at Ishtar. The little pig dangled from one of her tails. “Ishtar. Go ahead of us and make sure Eva and the others are ok. Be careful. There might be more than one.”
Ishtar nodded. She let go of Lydia’s fox tail. The moment the hooves hit the ground, she grew in size. Ishtar charged through the crowd. Plants expand with each command.
Prince Scorpio took off. His speed was almost unnatural for his size. The world speed around him. Sagittarius and Brinnia running behind him. His ears raised, tense for any sound. They’ll pay, he thought. Eyes narrowed as fury roiled through his body. They’ll pay for ruining this for her!
—-----------------------(General Leo, deep in Music City)-----------------------------
To say General Leo was mad would be the understatement. He was dragged into dangerous situations by his prince. Almost killed by an insane ruler. Punched without warning from Sagittarius’ “girlfriend”. Now, someone was shooting at them. An assault like that was considered at threat and insult to the Crog Empire. He picked up a shuffling of feet in an alleyway to his left.
“Gotcha!” He made a hard turn. Leo felt along his side. He cursed as he remembered that he left his weapon back on the ship. “‘We must be diplomatic’ he says. ‘Try to be less hostile to civilians’ he says.” He stomped as he scanned the dimly lit walls of the building. “Bah! One of these days he’s going to get our people killed!”
Something glinted at the corner of his eye. He soon grabbed a blade in his giant fingers. The blade dug deep into his fingers. It was more like a mere bee sting than actual pain. The weapon was a dagger. The blade was as big as a human hand. Short and had a pommel red as blood. Air was able to separate it by only a few inches between his eyes.
A laugh echoed through the entryways. “Impressive.” From the voice it was no doubt female. Something about the tone sent shivers of excitement and anger down Leo’s spine. “I’ve never come across a target that would be able to stop a blade. Let alone be able to detect me that quickly. I guess you Crogs are more” She let out another giggle.
Leo grimaced. “I don’t know if I should feel flattered or insulted.” He let out a dark chuckle. “Perhaps both!” He threw the weapon back to where it was originally thrown. He soon caught sight of a shape dodging the attack. Pale complection with long, braided black hair. Sharp teeth glinted into a menacing grin. Her red and black clothes looked casual for a fighter but no doubt effective.
The assassin stood tall. She pulled out a knife from one of the many pockets that lined her pants. Her head tilted. “This is going to be fun.”
Leo cocked an eye. “For who exactly? A miserable outcast from a broken planet?”
The assassin froze for a moment. Her weapon lowered slightly. Her eyes were briefly glazed with despair.
Now’s my chance. Leo charged at her. His arms extended. Suddenly, his opponent leaped into the air. Pain ran down his arm the moment cold steel plunged into the skin. He bit back a gasp and turned around. If he wasn’t here to end her, he’d be very impressed. Not many warriors in the Crog Emperium would ever land a blow on him. Let alone one with a slim frame such as hers.
“Don’t!” She growled out the word. Her voice was trying in vain to fight back the sadness inside of her. “Don’t you ever dare utter those words, General Leo.”
Leo’s skin felt cold in an instant. His name wasn’t as well known as General Kross’ but something about this unnerved him. He turned to face the assassin. He was surprised that his opponent was crying. Her form screamed of an attack but there was a wall she had that was ready to crumble.
Leo calmed himself. I better see how much she knows. “So, you know my name, huh?” He crossed his arms. He instantly regretted it the moment pain split into his shoulder.
She gave out a hollow laugh. “Cute. Just gets straight to the point. You seem more agreeable than your father. General Kross, is it?”
Now it was Leo’s turn to become angry. “How could you know about that?” He tried to laugh but it came out hollow. “My father barely acknowledged I was even alive. Let alone his son.”
“Sons actually.”
A blank expression went over his face. His were slightly lowered. “What? What are you talking about? I was an only child.”
The assassin shrugged. “Yeah, well, your mother kept some seriously messed up secrets from you.” She pulled out another blade. “Enough talk. I’m taking you down and getting my pay.” She let out a roar, charging with all her might.
Leo dodged and kicked her. Fury bristled under his skin. Whatever source she got it from, it was none of her business. He walked over to her. He slammed his fist but it was stopped by the sword. This one let out a burning pain that spread throughout his arm. He roared and tossed her away. A warm trickle of blood was caught in his hands.
The assassin let out a feral snarl. She readied her weapon once more. She leaped into the air like an alien cat. Her swing was barely blocked by a large piece of metal Leo was using as a shield. She landed on her feet. Her fingernails grew into wicked claws. She slashed at him every chance she had. Weapons going from swords to nails.
Leo blocked the blows as best as he could. The small space of the ally was preventing either of them to escape. Even when he grabbed a piece of wall, it crumbled and blocked the one way out. He was grazed a few times but it wasn’t enough to stop his fury from reaching a boiling point. He’s been through one misfortune after another. “Time to end this foolishness.” He blocked the sword once more. This time, however, he grabbed the attacker’s arm. Squeezing it until there was a loud snap. Leo ignored the scream as he tossed her to a pile of debris south of his direction.
As the dust settles, the assassin rose in a coughing fit. Her clothes were ripped around the sleeves and pant legs. Blood dripped from the side of her head. “Wow. My first time fighting a Crog…” She coughed again. “Not bad. I really had you on the ropes.” She raised a hand. A few fingernails were broken. “Still…Not going down…” She watched as General Leo got closer. “You’re pretty good looking…Even if you…had a terrible father…a weak mother…and…a…b-brother…” She wobbled as she raised her broken arm. Then, she fell.
Before she hit the ground, General Leo snatched her in his large hands. Her frame fit into the curl of his fingers. He stared down at her. He had so many questions to ask her. Who sent her? What was she talking about? A brother? However, only one question escaped his mouth. “What is your name?”
A weak smile graced the assassin’s lips. “S-strangely sweet coming from you…H-hem…lock…” Her eyes were closed and her breathing was a bit shaky.
“Hemlock,” He whispered her name. For some strange reason, he found it very pretty. He shifted her in his arms. Leo flinched at the pain that ran up his arm. “You’ve got a lot of questions to answer. Plus…A little duel at a Crog arena.”

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.”

Chapter Text

Lydia felt a little strange being in the bathing room of the enemy. Let alone have clothes that was modified to her size. She was sitting in a large basin of water. It was practically a lake for her. The smells of spices tickled her nose. It helped get rid of the sickly smell that hung on her skin. Her hair and tails spread out like tendrils.
Her familiars were at the edge of the water. Istar was blowing bubbles with her snout. Alon swam about. Symphony whistled a tune as she preened her feathers. The only that wasn’t here was Blazing Stars. Which made sense since he has to keep an eye on his master.
Lydia grabbed a brush. She ran her fingers through her hair. The bristles felt strange. However, they do allow her hair to have a steely shine to it. She smiled as she got out of the tub. She grabbed the clothes that were altered for her by Empress Cassiopia. She had to admit, the female Crog really had a talent for clothes making. The cloth itself was far more comfortable than she’d give credit for.
Lydia looked down to see her human feet were now fox feet. She grimaced. She flexed her toes. “This…is going to get some getting used to.” She finally noticed it when she got out of bed.
A knock at the door made her jump. She quickly finished up with her preparations. She patted down the scarlet dress with the silver trim. “Come in.”
Empress Cassiopia walked in. The baby was still in her arms. She had a tired expression on her face. Behind her were several guards. They had an expression of wanting to kill Lydia where she stood. All they just had to do was get the order.
Lydia bowed. “Good afternoon, your highness.”
Cassiopiea returned the bow. “I see that you’re in good spirits.”
Lydia gave a shy smile. “I just feel a little better after having a bath and something to eat.” She briefly looked away. “Without vomiting.” Her cheeks darkened as a few chuckles came from the guards.
Cassiopeia turned to glare at them. They stopped and looked away. “Yes. I do apologize for that…torrid display. I’ve warned my husband about that tactic for years.” She sighed. Her baby shifting slightly in her arms. It reached out to Lydia. “No, No, Virgo. It’s not someone you should touch right now.”
Lydia’s eyes brighten. “Oh! Virgo! That’s a pretty name! How old is she?”
Cassiopeia rolled her eyes. “She was only born a few weeks. However, she seems to have developed multiple interests.” She struggled for a moment as Virgo reached out. “Such as you.”
Lydia laughed. “That’s pretty normal right? She just wants to know about the world she lives in.” A sudden thought came to her. Before she could stop herself, she asked, “What was Scorpio like as a child?”
Cassiopeia raised her eyes in shock. Her ears were upright. Behind her, the guards laughed. They shrunk as their Empress glared at them. They backed away slowly. She looked at Lydia once again.
Lydia’s fur puffed up. Fox ears pointed upward. Tails straightened out. Cheeks flushed. Great! Just great, Lydia! You just had to ask a question like that when it’s supposed to be a diplomatic mission in enemy territory!
Cassiopeia was silent for a moment. “You…are quite an odd one. Polite but more straightforward. Fierce at times. Just as my husband said earlier.”
Lydia gulped. Her familiars were at her side. Alon twined his tail with one of hers. Ishtar stood between them, her tusks glowing. Symphony on her shoulder.
Cassiopeia turned to the guards. “Get the nursing room ready. I’ll be having a discussion with Miss Lydia there.”
The guards were hesitant at first. They looked at Lydia, then at her. They soon left without another word.
Cassiopeia glanced back. “Please follow me. Bold one.” She walked out of the room.
Lydia glanced at her familiars. She wasn’t sure what to make of this. However, she had to try her best not to make any more problems for herself. She followed behind Cassiopeia. I wish Eva and Aikka were here.
The halls seemed to stretch forever as the two of them walked. Fierce statues stood proud and tall. Tapestries showed the people in never-ending battles. Weapons, which is Lydia’s biggest concern with the baby, were racked up against some of the columns. Some Crog guards watched the duo make their way down the baby room.
Lydia felt a little conscious. Her tails stiff. Her palms pressed together in a silent prayer that nothing will go wrong. They had been silent throughout the trip. Her paws clicked against the floor.
“You know…” Cassiopeia finally spoke. They neared a door that nearly had many decorative spikes on it. “You’re the only person I’ve known to boldly ask about my son with those kinds of questions.” She rested her hand on the handle. “In the past, we’ve had females here and they would always watch for his athleticism. Say what makes them worthy of being the wife for my son.” She opened it. “No one asked about his personal life.”
They walked inside. To Lydia’s surprise, the room looked like a regular nursery. A large cradle nestled to the center of the room. A barred window stood to the right but there was a door, no doubt leading to the balcony. The cradle had violet drapes held up by a black iron rods. A few toys were scattered on the ground. One of them was building blocks with the Crog Alphabet written on them.
Lydia clasped her hands together. “Oh! This is so cute! But uh…” She noticed a small spear hung on the wall. “Is that really a safe thing for a baby to have?”
Cassiopeia laughed. “It’s going to be there until she can walk properly. Crog tradition is required to have the little ones fight at the age of two. One if they immediately show mobile skills.”
Lydia made a face but decided not to say anything. She went over to the nearest chair. It actually had a pillow that was soft enough to sit on. She sat down. Her tails draped it against one side. She circled her arms so it would be easier for the familiars to nestle in them.
Cassiopeia set her child down in her crib. As she sat in another chair, she heaved a heavy sigh. Ears drooped. Eyes tired. She looked as though she was ready to collapse at any moment. Her entire persona was gone.
Lydia couldn’t help but be concerned for her. She’s seen her own mother being tired after putting up with so much. Maybe it’s harder on a female Crog. Let alone a mother. “Cassiopeia? What’s it like being a female in Crog society?”
Cassiopeia grew silent. Her fingers entwined. Her eyes to the floor. Feet adjusted in an awkward position. “Getting a little risky? Aren’t we little one?”
Lydia raised a hand. “I mean no harm or disrespect. My mother…she braved the world herself.” At the mention of her mother, tears leaked out of the corner. She quickly wiped them away and cleared her throat. “I know that I’m a translator and I was to investigate the disapperances of the members of Earth.”
Cassiopeia didn’t respond. She only crossed her arms. She straightened herself.
Lydia took a deep breath. “However, whatever social business you have is for my own understanding.”
Cassiopeia glared. “And what makes you say that?”
Lydia decided to give her most sincere answer. “I want to understand Prince Scorpio more. For the longest time, I’ve been afraid of Crogs. Your battle, skill and ruthless prowess are all that anyone knows. It wasn’t until I met Scorpio, Leo and Sagittarius is when I’ve discovered that there’s truly nothing I know of you guys in general. I want to be closer to them. I want to know how a race that is beyond its known cruelty. Folly as it may be, I will not continue this path of hate any more than you do.”
Cassiopeia’s eyes went wide with shock. She’s been with this girl for only a little while, but she couldn’t help but be impressed. For a mere hybrid, she can understand what was going through her head. The exhaustion was almost wiped clean as she smiled.
Virgo began to cry. Little fists raised in the air. The cradle was soon rocked by Cassiopeia. As the rocking continued, the cries finally died down.
Cassiopeia looked at Lydia again. “In all my years, I’ve never met a female that had such a simple answer to a difficult question. Let alone understand our kind just out of mere curiosity.”
Lydia blushed. “It’s always been like that since…Since…” The words died in her mouth as she thought about Mercu. She immediately wiped her face. “Sorry. We’re getting a little off topic. I just remembered a dear alien friend I met.”
“Ah yes,” Cassiopeia said. She tilted her head. “Mercu was it?”
At the name, Lydia’s walls crumbled. Tears streamed from her eyes. “H-how did you-”
“You were muttering it a few times in Scorpio’s chambers,” Cassiopeia admitted. “I would come by from time to time to see if my son was there. Most of the time he was.”
Lydia was at a loss for words. Sadness and joy swirled inside her. She found herself sobbing. She wiped her face but they just kept flowing. She could see her familiars trying to comfort her. Then, she heard singing. A sweet soft tune that began to ease her emotions. She looked up to see Symphony sing at the edge of the crib.
Cassiopiea tilted her head. “Feel like talking now?”
Lydia nodded. She sniffed and wiped the tears away. “I met Mercu when I was only five years old.” She gave a sad smile. “I finished my school day. I don’t remember how it happened, but I got kidnapped before my mother could pick me up.”
Cassiopeia’s eyes widened. “My my. I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner. A hybrid human is quite a sight.”
Lydia shook her head. “No. I was completely human.” She pointed to her ears. “These lovely features didn’t pop out until now.”
Cassiopeia tilted her head. She leaned in with curiosity. “That is odd.”
“It could be just a result of it kicking in,” Lydia guessed. She raised a finger. “No comments on my human genes please! They got me this far in life!”
Cassiopeia chuckled. “You truly are quick as a whip. I have a good feeling you’ll survive down here.” She turned serious. “Then what happened?”
Lydia found herself shivering. Her tails wrapped around herself. “All I could really remember were red eyes glaring at me. Voices shouting at me or each other. They…” Lydia’s mouth went dry. “Were talking in an old language.That’s…one of the reasons I became a linguist.”
Cassiopeia said nothing. She only nodded.
Lydia could feel her hands shake as she continued. “I…do remember certain machines that shocked me. Needles…A-after that…I was rescued by a large creature. One I’ve never seen before.” She curled her tails around herself. “Surrounded by warm fur before passing out.”
“Yikes!” Ishtar shouted. Symphony and Alon shushed her in order to prevent her from waking the baby.
“When I came to, I found myself in Mercu’s arms.” Lydia smiled at the memory. “Like any kid, I was scared stiff. Screaming and I only ran a few feet until I tripped. Cried upon scraping my knee. He helped me up, assured me and told me all about his home.”
Cassiopeia tilted her head. Her eyes grew soft at the sight of Lydia’s small form. A creature so frail, but so warm.
“He claimed he knew my mother.” Then, Lydia frowned. Tears welling up again. “We were just at the outskirts of my hometown when this…thing attacked us.”
Cassiopeia straightened. “What did it look like?”
Lydia hugged Ishtar and Alon. “It…It was black and had sharp ears. For a moment I thought it was a Crog Soldier considering it was huge, but it looked human. Sharp fangs were dripping down. Long limbs. All I could remember was Mercu telling me to run home and never look back.” She took a shuddery breath. “No matter how loud the screams were. I did just that. By the time I got home, well I cried my eyes out.”
Cassiopeia gave a sympathetic look. Ears lowered. She reached out for a moment before pulling back her arm. “I’m sorry that was the only time Mercu taught you to be brave.”
Lydia sighed. She wiped away the last of her tears. It did feel strange that she felt a bit lighter after all this time. “I just wish I could do more.”
Cassiopeia sighed. “Trust me, you’re doing more than you’ll ever know.”
A knock on the door interrupted their moment. They turned to the sound. Cassiopeia’s ears flattened with annoyance. Lydia straightened in her seat. Fox ears perked.
“By Kraam…” Cassiopeia growled. She got up from her chair. “Not a moment’s peace.” She marched to the door. Her ears twitched with anger reaching to a dangerous boil.
Lydia shifted her attention to the crib. She saw the little baby twitch in her sleep. Lydia stifled a giggle as the baby twitched her ears. Who knew that the baby of our enemies could be this cute! She mentally gushed. I wish I could hold her.
“What is it?” Cassiopeia’s harsh voice reached Lydia’s ears. “The meeting isn’t for another hour. If it’s another suitor for my son-”
“Forgive me, your grace.” The guard spoke in a raspy manner. “But there’s been an urgent meeting based upon…recent developments.”
A pause hung in the air. Lydia turned her attention to her hostess. Cassiopeia was tense. A hand against the doorframe. The guard was slightly frightened by what he might say next. Lydia placed a hand on the edge of the crib, taking note of the uneasy breathing of the child.
“I’ll be right there.” Cassiopeia shut the door. She turned to Lydia. “We’re to meet in the council hall.”
Lydia gathered Ishtar and Alon into her arms. She got up, a worried expression drawn on her face. She moved over to her with Symphony fluttering by her side. “Is everything ok?”
Cassiopeia faced her. “Remember those missing humans that your group was after?”
Lydia nodded. Her heart began to twist slightly. She made her way to the door. All nine of her tails flailed about.
“Well…I’m afraid a few have been discovered just now.” Cassiopeia snatched one of her tails. “Pull yourself together. You’re going to see the other hordes soon enough.”
Lydia took in a few deep breaths. Symphony and Alon used their powers to ease the anxiety. She sighed. “Ok…I’m ready.”
—--(A few minutes later)------------------------------------------------------------
Lydia gulped. She had never seen so many Crogs in one room. Let alone see them agitated to the point where it’s a miracle that they didn’t kill each other. She sat rigid in her seat. It was only a few feet away from where Prince Scorpio was. His parents were at his left. Her tails curled inward. Fur puffed up. All eyes glared at her.
“This is atrocious!” One of the Crogs spoke. He was a leader of one of the hordes of the Emperium. “What is the meaning of bringing this pathetic creature here?”
Ishtar snarled. “Hey! Who are you calling pathetic? I can take you all down right here! Right now!” She tried to jump out of Lydia’s arms but Lydia’s grip was just too strong.
“Don’t make the situation any worse than it needs to be,” Alon warned.
Lydia took a deep breath before she spoke. “I’m still part of the Earth Colation and the conflict would only drag both of our races down. Unless you want to be dragged into another senseless battle, I’d suggest you listen. There could be some important information that has yet to be uncovered.”
They all laughed at her. Yellow eyes leering at her. Some even pointed a finger at her. Lydia took a breath as fury went up her back.
Prince Scorpio slammed his fist hard in his seat. “Enough! Lydia has been the only one who can understand this madness! Before she even showed up with her crew, our numbers were dwindling!” He narrowed his eyes, anger seering out. Even Blazing Stars was hissing on his shoulders. “Or were you cowards just too scared to even bother mentioning the details?”
The other leaders froze. Their laughter turned into stunned silence. They slunk back down into their chairs. The room was silent until Emperor Dusk cleared his throat.
“Perhaps it is best to put the prisoner before us,” Emperor Dusk said. He waved them over.
The guards below them were dragging something over. It was small. Skin covered bone. Chains echoed through the hall. Before long, they stood under the light. Both guards stood by its side.
Lydia leaned forward. Her eyes narrowed at the distance. She gasped at what she was seeing. It was a human. Eyes dulled. Skin sunken in. Head lowered. He had a shock of gray hair that covered half of his face.
One of the guards stepped forward. “My Emperor. This human was found only a few feet from the outer walls. It showed no response. During that time, several monsters have been attacking the outposts.”
The human slowly lifted his face. The grim expression held in place as he gazed. His eyes went along the crowd. When they landed on Lydia, a wide grin split across his face.
Something about it made her feel uncomfortable. Lydia leaned back. Her fur was raised. Heart beated to the point where she was sure all the Crogs could hear it. Her skin turned pale.
“Hello, little Lydia…” A grin spread across the human’s face. One that even made some of the Crogs almost shrink away. “It’s been a while.”
Lydia gulped hard. It couldn’t be. She slowly got onto her feet to have a closer look. Each step felt like lead. “H-how do you know my name?”
The expression on the man’s face grew maniacal. Eyes widened with glee. “Don’t you recognize me?” Then, he shrugged. “I suppose not since it was such a long time, but I never forgot such a fragile form.”
Lydia froze. Keep your composure, she mentally hissed. You’re in hostile company. Don’t let them see weakness. “I see. So you were part of the organization that kidnapped me and at least ten other human children back on earth?”
Whispers filled the room. All the Crogs glanced at one another. Confusion and frustration written on their faces. Ears flashed about like a black ripple. They all froze at a hysterical laugh. All eyes went back to the deranged man.
“So you do remember!” He put a hand on his head. “You gullible tikes were such an easy catch. Until that stupid Mercu came along.”
Emperor’s Dusk’s eyes widened. “Mercu?”
Lydia gripped the railing of the balcony. Her fury in a dangerous boil. She had a bad feeling. “Why are you really here?”
The grin grew wider. The Crog guards found themselves backing away slowly. The halberds ready to drop from their hands. “Why to observe of course. I just had some modifications to myself and I felt so wonderful without a suit.”
Lydia snarled. She could feel Ishtar snorting in anger. “Liar…You’re after something.”
Cassiopiea leaned next to her husband. “Dear, I think we need to listen to her.”
Emperor Dusk got up from his spot. He walked over to the edge of the balcony. His gaze focused on Lydia. “You…know this man?”
Lydia nodded. “He was one of the kidnappers back on Earth. He was charged and sent to prison for experimentation.” Her eyes narrowed. “Never thought I’d see him again.”
Emperor Dusk turned his attention to the man. “Why have you REALLY come here? If you’re planning a war, then I’m afraid you’ll lose easily.”
The man waved away the threat. “Oh. I’m afraid it won’t be so easy.” He pressed his hands together. “Not without ‘special company’.”
Lydia froze. Eyes wide. Fur standing on end. Her arms threatened to give way. She looked at Ishtar. She whispered something into her ear.
Ishtar leaped from Lydia’s arms. Her hooves landed gracefully onto the stone floor. She trotted away. Blazing Stars soon joined her.
Prince Scorpio turned to his mother. “Mother…” He lowered his voice as best as he could. Fear dripped out with the next several words. “Go with Ishtar and Blazing Stars. I have a bad feeling.”
Cassiopeia held a confused expression for a moment. Then, her eyes turned to horror. Trying her best to hide her worry, she got up from her seat and followed the familiars.
Lydia saw this,but returned her gaze back to the man. Something about this situation made her feel uneasy. What was a lone human doing on a Crog Homeworld by himself? Let alone get captured that easily? She recalled that humans have long put up a fight with Crogs. Even if the attempts were futile at best. Then, she smelled something. Something vile. In an instant, her eyes went feral. Lips drawn into a snarl.
None of the other Crogs seemed bothered by the conversation from earlier. Nor did they even notice Lydia’s reaction. They just focused on the man in front of their own eyes. One leader of the horde scoffed. “I can’t believe someone so puny would be able to slip in this easily.”
“That’s nothing compared to the monsters that have been showing up as of late,” Another horde leader said. “Practically ate half of the northern horde.” He practically laughed at his own hidden joke.
“You wretch!” High above, to the right, Crog with an entire ear missing threw an axe across the stadium. It barely missed its mark.
Emperor Dusk slammed his fist on the rail. “Enough!” The whole room shook upon the impact. All the Crogs stopped their fighting. Attention turned to their leader. The infuriated Crog leader leaned forward, ears twitching faster than normal. His eyes glowered. “You have one last chance, human! Tell us what this nonsense is about and we might spare you.”
The man gave a maniacal smile again. This time, his eyes changed to a deep red. Additional arms appeared. Spikes jabbed the guards hard. Both Crogs fell into the void before anyone could register what had just happened. “Mercy, you say? What a funny display you have of that. After everything you space vermin have done to humanity? I think your demise will do just fine.”
A scream echoed across the hallway. It was soon followed by a baby’s wail and monstrous bellows.
“Mother!” Prince Scorpio yelled. He got out of his seat and ran to the door. His father was close behind.
Lydia ran after them. Just only a few steps when something grabbed her leg. She tripped. Her face smacked the floor, blood oozed out. She looked down to see a hand connected to a long arm. Clawed the floor as it pulled her toward the source.
“Ah. Ah.” The voice mocked. “Where do you think you’re going? I have much needed tests to do.”
Alon summoned ice in an instant. It covered the arm all the way up to the ankle. Alon slashed it with his tail, breaking it in half. His eyes took on an icy color. “How dare you touch her!” He transformed. His body was now enlarged and covered in spines.
Symphony joined in. Her wings took on spiky pink tips. Her size was just large enough not to crush anyone else in the room. She looked back at Lydia. “Go.”
Lydia nodded. She could imagine the chaos below as Crogs tried to fight off whatever monstrous form the man took. All she could think about in that moment was Scorpio and his family. Then, she remembered what happened in Nourasia. The kidnapped princess. They’re going after the baby! Virgo! Her pace quickened as she tried to remember where the nursery was.
Screams and bellows grew louder. Lydia could make out shadows on the floors. Some were Crogs that were injured. Spears and swords scattered on the floor. Scorch marks spotted the wall. Dead plants littered the path.
Lydia ran further in the direction of the noise. A baby’s wail grew louder. Panic flooded in Lydia’s heart. Feral instincts took over. She soon arrived at a scene. She ducked as debris was thrown in her direction.
Ishtar’s tusks were pure emerald in the light. Eyes were blazing. Plants grew wild around her hooves. She knocked a misshapen monster that resembled a centipede to the other side, creating a large hole in the wall. On her right, Blazing Stars bit into a dog-like creature with nine eyes. It burst into flames.
Emperor Dusk gripped his arm, an axe in his hand. He glared at the beast before him. He stood in front of Cassiopiea. His wife held on to the baby for dear life as it wailed in her arms. Prince Scorpio held back a creature that resembled a golem.
“Scorpio!” Lydia called out. Her tails flared out. She attacked the golem with a single, solid swing of her tails. She ran over to his side.
Prince Scorpio turned to her direction. “Lydia!” He held his arm out. “You need to get back! There’s a horde above us.”
Lydia ducked under his arm. “I don’t care! I’m not going to fight this thing alone!” Tears began to leak. “Mercu did the same thing! When a bunch of humans found him-He-” She wiped them away. “I was helpless then. I will not be helpless now.” Her fur began to glow just as a loud crash resounded.
The duo glanced at a large mass staring at them. Multiple eyes burned with fury. Limbs clawed at the walls. Mouths appearing and disappearing at random. Despite its mass, it was covering ground faster than anyone could expect.
Lydia took her stance. Teeth bared. Ears flat against her head. “Ready to fight. You?”
Emperor Dusk looked at her for a moment. Then, he gave a hoarse laugh. “Let’s see how well you can fight. In turn, I’ll teach you if we live.” He went back to a fighting stance.
Lydia smiled back. “Sounds good to me.” Her eyes focused. She could feel her alien blood take over. Her teeth shifted, ready to burst out of her mouth. Her claws extended.
Once the creature was only a few feet upon them, the duo launched themselves at the creature. They slashed and clawed the surface. Lydia tried to concentrate on what elemental powers she can use but nothing happened. Prince Scorpio did as well but it was hard with the limbs slamming into them.
After a long exchange, Ishtar and Blazing Stars joined the fight. The large beasts finally got a hold of the monster. They tore into it in a matter of minutes. Nothing left but dark pulp littered on the floor.
Lydia and Prince Scorpio leaned against the wall. Both were panting hard, ears drooping down. They leaned against each other as if they’ve been together for years.
“Not…exactly what I imagined my first day would be like,” Lydia admitted.
“Neither did,” Prince Scorpio responded.
The two looked at each other for a long time. Each detail of their body took in their sight. The silence followed them. Then, they both laughed.
“By Kraam. I’ve never seen anyone tear into that thing with their bare hands,” Prince Scorpio said.
“Same,” Lydia admitted. “It was all instinct.” Then she frowned. “I really need to practice my elemental powers.”
Prince Scorpio lifted his hand. His eyes held in concentration, ears raised. An orange spot appeared in the center of his palm. It glowed until a small flame flickered.
Lydia gasped. “When did that happen?”
Prince Scorpio drooped. “Sometime when you were unconscious…Some guards were making dirty remarks about you and-” The flame disappeared as he snuffed it out. He rubbed his hands together. “Want to…explore when everything settles?”
Lydia sighed. She leaned against him. “I would like that…” Her eyes drooped. “As long as we can avoid too much foot traffic…”
—--------------(Sometime later)-----------------------------------------------------
Once everyone was looked over by the doctor, with Alon’s assistance, everyone decided to turn in for the night before they’d interrogate the prisoner again. General Leo was in charge this time around since Hemlock would also be put into question soon enough.
Lydia found it to be a little strange to be in a guest chambers of the Crogs. She looked around for anything that might hurt her. Spears. Hidden traps in a bed. Once it was safe, she began to undress and change into her nightgown. It was strangely soft despite how bare the planet was. Even the stitchwork was so elegant. Every seam nestled against her frame.
Istar, Alon and Symphony were all nestled in a nest of pillows. They were fast asleep, soft whistles breaking the silence. Lydia smiled and draped a blanket over them.
A knock on the door broke her out of the exhaustion wrapping around her. She turned her head toward it. “Yes?”
“It’s Prince Scorpio.” Scorpio’s voice cut through the door. “May I come in?”
Lydia gave a smile. Ears perked. “Sure but keep your voice down.” Her heart skipped a beat as she heard the door slowly open. She turned to see Prince Scorpio standing there. He wore a simple tunic and pants. Blazing Stars was nowhere on him.
“Blazing Stars is sleeping with my sister as we speak,” Prince Scorpio explained. He let out a yawn. Ears drooped down. “It was the only way that mother would feel at ease.”
Lydia nodded. “I don’t blame her.”
“General Leo is going to be down in the dungeons all night,” Scorpio continued. He took a nearby chair and sat down. His ears lowered to his head. “I just hope your crew figures something out.”
Lydia drooped. A frown played on her lips. Tails limp on the floor. She began to think about the crew. Eva no doubt arguing with Aikka on what to do next. Spirit silently observing. Rush glowering with Sagittarius as they study the mysterious materials. She heaved a heavy sigh.
Scorpio gave a guilty look. He rubbed the back of his head. “Listen. How about this…I’ll show you around the best places where you wouldn’t draw so much attention before you hide out in the library. You can translate as much as you like.”
Lydia gave a small smile. She went over to hug him. “Yes. I’d like that very much.”
—-------(The next morning)-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lydia couldn’t believe what she was seeing! She never thought Crogs would have this much merchandise in the market. Aside from weapons and machines. Her tails wagged, her red cloak flapped around.
Prince Scorpio gently grabbed one of her tails. “Careful,” He whispered. “You don’t want to be seen.” A blush appeared on his face.
Lydia blushed back. “R-right.” She lowered her tails. “Sorry. I’m just so excited.”
Prince Scorpio sighed. “I suppose so. We’re not exactly open to visitors seeing our…weakness?” His blush only darkened upon saying that.
Lydia giggled. “More like stubbornness.” She turned her attention back to the stalls. “So, where do we start first?”
As the day wore on, the two began moving from one stall to the next. Rich tapestries that told an old war story. Pottery that almost costs twice as much as Lydia’s salary. Spices that nearly exposed her tails after sneezing. Warm bread with a slightly burnt crust. They even managed to get a few books for Lydia. The familiars also had a good time while still keeping an eye out for any more attackers. Each time, Lydia’s worries melted away and Prince Scorpio would stare at her with loving eyes.
Lydia found herself admiring the light blue pendant on a simple chain. It just had a calming effect on her. “That was so much fun! I wish we could do this more often.”
Prince Scorpio gave a contented sigh. “Same.” Then, he looked at the castle. The menacing appearance reminded him of the duty that needs to be done. A dangerous situation that has yet to be addressed.
Ishtar yawned. “It would be better if the mistress wasn’t forced to hide herself around them.” She snorted. “They should be thankful we stopped an all out battle.”
Alon gave an annoyed look. “It would also put everyone in a compromising position.”
Symphony shrugged. “I don’t think they really cared about that.”
Everyone turned to her. They all had shocked expressions. Lydia tilted her head, almost ready to drop her bags. “Symphony…What makes you say that?”
“Well, I overheard some Crogs and apparently word got around from Crogs of the other hordes about your presence. Even how you and Prince Scorpio handled that monster.” Symphony smiled. “Isn’t that great? You’re famous!”
Lydia stood there stunned. Her tails popped out from under her cloak. Hood flopped backward, revealing her dropped jaw and wide eyes. “Uhhhhhh….”
“Let me in!” A random voice was heard over the gate. The group turned their heads to the noise. “I must see him!” Standing there was a young Crog maiden. Her stomach bulged slightly.
“What’s going on?’ Lydia asked.
Prince Scorpio sighed. His ears drooped in annoyance. “Oh dear…must be another complaint about the colosseum again.”
“Shouldn’t we go the back way?” Alon asked.
“Prince Scorpio!”
Symphony grimace. “Oop. Too late.” Her eyes caught sight of the female Crog running over to them.
Prince Scorpio put a tentative hand in front of Lydia. He guided her to be behind him. Eyes focused on the latest problem before him. His muscles tense, ears raised up. “Can I help you?”
“Stop the execution now!” The Crog woman screamed. “I won’t let my husband go through with this!”
Lydia stared in shock. “Executions?” She turned to Scorpio. “Wait…Is she referring to the guards that were knocked around yesterday after the attack?”
Prince Scorpio was silent for a moment. His ears lowered slightly. He sighed. “I’m sorry, Lydia…Yes…Our culture doesn’t approve of failures. Especially when it comes to the protection of the Emperor and his family.”
At that, Lydia’s fur rose. Ears upright. She slowly turned to the Crog woman. “What happened? Is someone there that you’re trying to save?”
The Crog woman stared at her incredulously. Then, glared at Lydia hard. “You! Stay out of this!”
Lydia took a step forward. “Was…he one of the guards that was protecting Virgo?”
The Crog woman took a step in response. “Stop! Talking!” Her voice threatened to break.
Lydia heard enough. She began to run. Her speed raised wind as she went past the guard. Her sharpened ears picked up all sounds. Her feet echoed through the doorway. She made sharp turns as she reached the hallway. She nearly screeched to a halt in front of two guards. Lydia didn’t flinch as they aimed their spears at her.
“Halt!” One of the guards shouted.
“Not another step!” The other guards’ eyes lit up. The ‘x’ on his left eye grew wide. “Wait…Aren’t you the one that sat with our Emperor?”
Lydia nodded. She tried to remain calm, her tails flinched behind her. “Where’s the executions held?”
They both looked at her as if she’s lost her mind. The scarred one pointed to the hallway on the left. “It’s…that way?” He nearly jumped as she ran in that direction before they could react. “What in Kraam?”
Lydia kept running. She could smell the Empress and Emperor. Their voices come in clear. I hope I’m not too late, she thought. Those guards don’t deserve to die. What happened was beyond anyone’s control. This…travesty needs to stop. She soon arrived at the colosseum. Her feet screeched to a halt as she came across several Crog guards with their heads bowed. Next to them was a Crog with a large battle axe in hand.
Emperor Dusk stood high above the group in a levitated throne. His arm raised high, eyes focused on the Crog with a large sword. “Comense.”
Lydia ran again just as the executioner raised his weapon high above his head. She leaped. Everything moved in slow motion. With her bare hands, she grabbed the blade and wrestled it out of the Crog’s hands. She flung it to a nearby wall. The blade crashed into it, the steel deep into the stone.The Crog guards stunned at what they were seeing before them.
Emperor Dusk stood there in shock, yellow eyes wide in pure shock. Cries of outrage rang around the stadium as the spectators, most of them being horde leaders, glared at Lydia. Cassiopeia straightened in her chair.
Prince Scorpio ran into the arena, the familiars close at his heels. They all panted hard, eyes to the ground. Once he regained his breath, he screamed, “Lydia! What are you doing?”
Lydia stood tall, fox ears erect. “Stop this madness, Emperor Dusk. Don’t execute these guards because of what happened yesterday!”
“This is outrageous!” One Crog yelled.
“Why should our Emperor yield to such a scrawny creature?” Another roared.
Emperor Dusk raised his hand, silencing the crowd. His expression grew neutral as he focused on Lydia. “Failure isn’t an option Lydia…They’ve failed their duty.”
“That’s not their fault!” Lydia growled. “You saw it for yourself. This was a planned attack! You were all so sure that there was only one pathetic roaming around and thought nothing of it. You thought the others were weak, but now you kill these three because you want to hide the truth of how wrong you were!”
Stunned silence hit the stadium. No warrior made an effort to move from where they are. A few weapons were ready to drop from their hands. Suddenly, footsteps echoed followed by severe shouting.
“Shade! Shade!” The female Crog from earlier appeared onto the stadium. Behind her, the guards that Lydia met in the halls were chasing her. She stopped for a moment. Her hand to her stomach, panting heavily. She cried out as one of the guards tried to use their weapon on her.
Lydia jumped over, tails blocked the weapon with ease. Ears were pinned back. She bared her teeth in a vicious snarl. She took a step closer to the enemy. Feral instinct taking over her.
“Drop your weapons!” Scorpio cried. He raised his hand to the guard, eyes narrowed. “Drop your weapons now!”
“You can’t be serious, your majesty!” The guard with the weapon exclaimed. He nearly fell backward as he felt Lydia’s hard push of her tails.
“No, I’m sure he’s dead serious.”
Everyone soon turned their attention to none other than General Leo with Hemlock by his side. The general had a sword in his hand while Hemlock had a dagger. Hemlock had a big grin on her face. General Leo merely looked annoyed as if this spectacle was boring to him.
The guard was stunned. He glanced back to Lydia’s determined face. He sighed and backed away.
Emperor Dusk stared in shock. “Scorpio…You do realize what you’ve done?” His ears flicked with agitation.
Scorpio turned to his father. Ears raised up in defiance. “I’m sorry father, but I agree with her.”
The horde leaders all roared out. Some even went as far as throwing steel at them. To their shock, Blazing Stars turned large and melted the weapons before they could reach Scorpio and the others. They shrunk back as he roared at them.
Lydia turned to the female Crog. “Go to him. I’ll cover for you.” She extended her tails out. She nearly flinched as one of them was swatted away.
“Don’t…Pity me!” The female Crog hissed, ears flat on her head. To her shock, her stomach and head was touched by Lydia’s tails. A strange silver glow surrounded her.
Lydia took a deep breath. In a voice so gentle, she said, “I’m not. I know the mere idea of not being with the one you care about. You didn’t want his life thrown away because you’re carrying a baby. You want a family.”
One of the guards shot up his head, eyes wide with shock. The executioner nearly stumbled back in surprise at the sudden reaction. “Is this true?”
The female Crog just stared for a moment. Her ears drooped. The silver glow turned her entire body into a living mass of the night sky. Tears streamed out like drops of mercury. “Yes…Yes…I’m sorry Shade. I…I wanted to tell you.”
Shade stared at her. Then, he stumbled out of the middle of the group. He began to walk toward her. “Aquila…”
Behind them, the horde leaders and the executioner were getting annoyed. The executioner tried to follow. However, four of Lydia’s tails snatched him up into the air. He was met by a feral growl.
“Let. Them. Talk.” Lydia growled out each word in the Crog language.
At that, all the Crogs froze in place. Yellow orbs wide with shock and grew, ears lifted so high that they were mistaken for horns. Even Emperor Dusk fell back into his seat.
Shade held Aquila’s hand in his. “I’m so sorry I didn’t notice. I was so wrapped up in my position. Fighting the ladder.” He touched her head with his. “You know failure is not an option.”
Aquila sniffed. “I know,” she said mournfully. “But I couldn’t bear the thought of you not being here.” Her ears lowered. “I thought it would be a nice change.”
Lydia faced the couple. “You’re not a failure, Shade. What happened was not your fault. You didn’t know how well planned that attack was.” She turned back to the horde leaders. Ears flat on her head, fur bristled. “You on the other hand are a different story.”
“Excuse-” One of the leaders spoke, but shrunk back from Lydia’s snarl.
“You all think so highly of yourself. Technologically advanced. A long history of war that would make the rest of the planets blush. However, that’s never enough for you. You take and take, believing and deluding into believing that nobody will stop you. Not even the humans of Earth! The moment the coalition expanded on your turf you became afraid!” Lydia stamped her foot hard, plants grew all around it. “You didn’t want to lose a foolish title and now that pride almost cost you an heir and the collapse of a decaying empire!”
“How dare you!” One of the Horde Leaders screamed. “Once I-”
“No,” Emperor Dusk said. “She’s right.”
“Dear!” Cassiopeia gasped.
“Father!” Prince Scorpio stared up at his father in pure shock.
Emperor Dusk focused on the crowd. “When me and my brother were young, we traveled along the stars. Doing everything we believed what a Crog should do.” He lowered his ears. “However, five things impacted my life that changed my views of our people. The first was when I returned home to my wife before Prince Scorpio was born.”
Prince Scorpio and Cassiopeia stared at Emperor Dusk with silent reverence. Lydia tried her best not to cry at the sweet sentiment.
“The second upon my brother, Kross, being dead during the race of Oban.”
General Leo looked at the ground, an expression of disgust and anger swirled upon him. His hand slowly took Hemlock into his.
“The other three were the result of meeting this hybrid right here.” Emperor Dusk pointed at Lydia. He ignored the confused outburst from the crowd. “No matter how scared she was, she was able to stand tall. A resilience that even I can’t name. Despite our hostility, she went out of her way to protect us. US! The very enemy of her people.” He looked at the guards. “It is clear to me now that if she’s willing to put her life to save these guards, then I revoke the need for execution.”
The two guards that didn’t move stared in shock. Nightshade only whooped with joy as he hugged his wife. The Horde Council just sat there in great confusion at what they were witnessing. Lydia stood tall while Prince Scorpio walked up beside her, the prince’s warmth comforting her.
Emperor Dusk looked at Lydia. “Miss Lydia. I wish to discuss matters with you tomorrow. There’s much we need to discuss.”

Chapter Text

on Wei got up and groaned. “Ugh! My head.” He rubbed his forehead as a spark of pain hit him. His mind was foggy and the floor beneath him didn’t give him much comfort. “What happened?”
He flinched as he heard snarls nearby. He looked around, but he found that he was somewhere dark. Even when his eyes adjusted, it was hard to make out much of anything. He only saw metal bars before him and what seemed to be a table across from it. Don flinched as he saw movement in one corner of the room. His hand touched a hard, damp floor.
“What is this place?” Don gasped as he began to remember what happened to him. A large monster that bore a resemblance to a human attacked him. He barely had enough time to fight back before he was flung to a nearby wall. The last thing he recalled before blacking out, was being dragged away while that professor he saw earlier gave a few commands. He growled in anger. “When I get my hands on him-”
“H-hello?” A soft voice called out of the darkness. “Anyone there?”
Don scanned the area. He could see a faint outline of cages to the left of his vision. “Who’s there? How many are you?”
“F-five, including me…” The voice coughed hard. “I’m sorry, but I can only speak for five minutes at a time. I’m seriously ill.”
Don Wei raised an eyebrow. Only one person comes to mind that would fit the description. “Are you Lydia’s mother? Are you Umbra?”
At this, a surprised gargle was heard. “Lydia?! You know about my baby?”
Don Wei nodded even though he knows she can’t see her. “Yes. The last I saw her was a few weeks ago.” However that might be a different amount of time up to this point.
“Was there…anything different about her?” Lydia’s mother asked.
“Different?” Don Wei scratched his head. “Different how?”
“A physical feature that’s not…human…”
Don Wei thought for a moment. He sighed. “I can’t explain it…but…” He braced for whatever reaction Umbra was going to give him. “Fox-like ears and tails. Nine tails to be exact.”
Umbra let out a hollow laugh. “Just like her father.”
Don Wei stared at the silhouette in shock. “What?”
—----------(Out in space)--------------------------------------------
“We have to go back for her!” Argen shouted. He tried to run for the controls but he was stopped by Eva.
“Whoa there little guy!” Eva held Argen up before putting him down to his seat. The glow of the intergalactic map gave her a strong appearance, the blue light highlighting her biceps. “Lydia risked her life for this mission. We still need to figure out what is going on.” She scowled. “As much as I would want to take them all on.”
Aikka gave a frustrated sigh. “Right now we only have a few leads, but they don’t seem to bring us any closer to the missing humans.”
Rush crossed his arms. He leaned back in his seat. “That’s not a lot to go on.”
Sagittarius fiddled with a tablet, his beloved Brinnia at his side. “Maybe not. I think we can find the mastermind with the samples that were collected so far.” He pressed a few buttons that instantly activated a small window on the map. It displayed the sample of the powder hidden in Lydia’s suit.
“The poison?!” Eva’s eyes went wide. “How were you able to study it? It nearly killed Brinnia!”
Sagittarius nodded. “True, but I found a few vials and laboratory material that was stored within this ship and the Monarch’s treasury.”
Argen gasped. “You STOLE from the Monarch?” He split into a wide grin. “That’s so cool! No one was ever able to do it!”
Brinnia rolled her eyes. “Aside from that, what did you find?”
Sagittarius walked up to the monitor. He asked Aikka to move aside for a moment. He placed his vial into a tiny cubby with ease despite his large fingers. Once it was sucked inside of the machine, another image appeared on the screen. The molecules are arranged in a scattered manner.
The Crog warrior pointed at the screen. “This molecular compound is composed mostly of plant materials but has a hint of Crog DNA in the mix.”
Rush raised a brow. “But how did it make Brinnia sick?”
Sagittarius turned to him. “Because it wasn’t specified to attack Byrians.” He went back to the keyboard and another image popped up. Strange branches appeared on the molecule. “These are special markers used to tell the molecules which are Crogs and which are not. Apparently, they can only be triggered by a physical force or presence of the DNA that poison senses.”
Eva thought for a moment. “That doesn’t make any sense. We were supposed to stay away from you, but we were knocked off course.”
Aikka faced Eva from behind his chair. “I don’t think that was an accident. Remember the route?”
Eva nodded. She did recall that it borders along Crog Territory and a strong blast like they’ve had could knock them to that destination. Dread began to crawl into her as Aikka continued his explanation.
“I think someone knew we were going there and rigged our ship to blow without warning. I’m sure that if we talked to one of the mechanics back on Earth. They might say that nothing was wrong until the launch.”
That is unless someone told them to keep quiet to their leader, Spirit gestured.
Sagittarius typed furiously on the keys. His eyes focus on the map. “If I can just link the genetic material into the coordinates…” The screen beep and a red blip appeared before them. “There! That planet is the source. It might clue us in to what’s going on.”
Rush shrugged. “Consider what we’ve seen so far, worth a shot.”
Argen looked up at Brinnia. “What about Lydia? Will she be alright on her own?”
The others exchanged looks. A heavy silence filled the air as it fell on a vacant seat to their right. Hints of grey fur riddled the chair.
Sagittarius got up from his chair and walked over to Argen. He picked the boy up in his arms. His eyes gave a soft glow. “She’ll be fine. I’ve seen how far she’s come. Even managed to handle Prince Scorpio when she was by herself.”
“With Scropio, sure!” Rush said. “But that doesn’t change the fact she’ll be stuck on a planet of-”
An image of the Earth President flashed onto the screen. “President to Eva Wei! President to Eva Wei!”
The group froze in place. Their eyes were wide with horror, mimicking the president’s own reaction. Nobody moved an inch. The computers hummed through the silence.
“Byyyyy Kroooommmmm,” Sagittarius uttered.
“What’s going on here?!” The president roared. His lips were lifted into a feral snarl. “What is a Crog doing on your ship?!”
Eva raised a hand. “Sir…We can explain…”
“Explain what?” The president’s eyes went cold. He paced around, his form flitting in and out of the field of the screen. “That you’ve decided to turn traitor on your own planet and side with the enemy! Fooling around the galaxy with no results? Mopping about the loss of your father?”
Eva’s face darkened. “Sir! What the heck?! We’ve been chased around by enemies the entire time. We had to pull miracles just to survive. Lydia translated some books from a Crog library and nearly died! She sacrificed herself to let us go! We’ve only found bread crumbs to what’s going on and what have you been doing? Nothing, but acting paranoid!”
The president didn’t say anything. He froze from the spot he was in, his face turned expressionless. His eyes stared down at them.
Aikka stepped over to Eva’s side. “Sir, we only found a few records about the missing colonies. Lydia had also translated a few of the Crog books and none of them were about the colonies-”
“Where is Lydia?” The president roared.
Argen raised his voice before anyone could stop him. “She went with the Crogs! She wanted to protect us!” Sagittarius put a protective hand around him.
The president stood there, motionless. Then, a manic smile split across his face. He let out a hysterical laugh. “That’s just great! Just when things are starting to look up, they fly off the rails! We needed that useless wretch!”
Spirit leaned back as far as he could, eyes wide with terror. The alien began to tremble. Rush raised his weapon behind Spirit.
“What? What are you talking about?” Eva asked. She could already feel a pit form in her stomach.
“Those suits! Those suits were going to solve all of our problems with the Crogs! Poof! Gone!” The president flared his hands as he talked. “Lydia was just to make a few translations and find anything to incriminate them! Then, find the earth colonies before anything else went wrong like from a few years ago! Like he promised.”
“What?” Eva gaped.
The entire crew’s eyes went wide. They leaned back as if the president was going to eat them where they stood.
The president continued on. “He promised that if I brought Lydia to that planet, she would find some text of some experimentation. The suits would help eliminate the problem at its source. The poison Dr. Nongon gave me was said to handle this! Better yet, it should’ve been every enemy in the galaxy!” He let out a hysterical laugh.
Upon seeing this, Sagittarius rushed over to the computer and terminated the connection. He began frantically pushing buttons as he set Argen into his seat. The machine whirled to life, engines roaring.
Eva immediately went to her seat. “Sagittarius! What are you doing?” She glared at Sagittarius.
“Saving our skins and ending this madness!” Sagittarius turned to the crew. “Get in your seats now!”
Rush ran over to his seat followed by Spirit. Brinnia went to the seat next to Argen and Sagittarius. Aikka ran over the bridge where G’dar was nestled quietly in the bedding made for him. The Nourasian prince barely as enough time to get into his seat as the ship went into full throttle.
—-----------(Don Wei and Umbria)-----------------
“I was just a junior scientist at the time,” Umbria uttered. Her words gave her strength as she spoke. “I specialized in creating good relations with aliens by creating suits that would make it easier for aliens to live on earth without compromising the body.”
Don Wei leaned forward. “Where does Mercu come into this?”
“At the time, I didn’t think that the company I was working at had something shady to hide.” Umbria gave a bitter laugh. “Boy was I wrong. I guess that’s what happens when you don’t research Tarturus.”
“Tarturus?!” Don Wei got up. He gritted his teeth as his head throbbed harder than before, his hand bolted to his temple. “You mean the scandal where innocent aliens were kidnapped and tortured? YOU were one of the scientists?”
Umbria sighed. “Not something to be proud of. I just got out of college and started working.”
—---------------(Flashback)------------------------------------------------------
20-year-old Umbria was looking at the latest notes from her company’s latest experiments. “Well, so far the filtrations seem to be working for the aqua suits. We just need to set up the module to be less clunky when they need to sit down.”
“Going at your notes I see?”
Umbria nearly jumped as she looked up from her work. Her dark hair nearly fell out in a tumble. “Sorry Director Nongon! I was a bit distracted by my latest research. With just enough tweaks, the aquatic aliens can enjoy Earth visits without the inconveniences when it comes to being on land.”
Nongon gave her a hearty smile. He placed a hand on her shoulder. “That’s alright, my dear. I’m just glad you’re enjoying your work. Keep it up and I’m sure you’ll be the head of research in no time.”
Umbria smiled. “Thanks so much sir!”
Nongon nodded. “There is something that I would like for you to do.” He pulled out a vial. In the glass container was a tuft of silver fur. “Could you please have a look at the DNA coding of this fur? I want to make a special medicine out of it.”
Umbria tilted her head. “What kind of medicine?”
Nongon handed it to her. “A medicine that’s going to change the galaxy and Earth. It’ll heal any alien with no side effects. Poison would be no match for it!”
Umbria’s eyes sparkled. “Wow! That’s amazing sir! Sure thing! Just let me have another cup of coffee with twelve lumps of sugar and I’ll be on my way!”
—--------(End Flashback)----------------------------
“I was so naive back then…” Umbria sighed. She rolled her head toward Don Wei even though she couldn’t see. “I had no idea what he was really planning until I met Mercu.”
Don Wei stared at her in pure horror. “Dr. Nongon was the mastermind? That…doesn’t make sense…If he was a master criminal…why would he show himself at this point?”
“For one, he was very careful about his image,” Umbria answered. “He laid low until the second Crog Invasion pulled him out of hiding. Second, I’m sure he wanted revenge.”
—-------------(Flashback)------------------------------------------------------
Umbria yawned and tried to take a sip of her coffee. Her mug turned out to be empty the moment it touched her lips. Upon seeing this, she looked at the time on her watch and let out a groan. “3 A.M. I really need sleep.” She trudged outside the building to take in the fresh air before her.
The stars were bright and full. She found it hard to believe that she was in a forested area that’s just three miles away from her hometown. Umbria held up the vial against the full moon. The fur inside turned silver against the light.
“I don’t know how Dr. Nongon was able to get samples of these, but I feel like I’m going in circles.” Umbria pulled out the numbers and charts that were scrawled on her papers. So far there was barely anything adding up. “It cures disease for a little while but it back peddles and I have to start all over again!” She tosses them into the air. “This is hopeless!”
Suddenly, she heard something. A soft melody in a language she’s never heard of before. Umbria listened to it. She glanced around but it was almost hard to make out each direction it was coming from. It stopped.
Am I hallucinating? Umbria sighed. “Better head to bed.” She knelt down to pick up some papers when the melody started up again. This time followed by a mournful howl. She glanced up and saw that it was coming from a shed only seven feet from the research facility.
Umbria took a step before she froze in place. That shed was only visited by the director and no one else. However, the melody was too enchanting to ignore and her brain was dying for something else to do. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” She walked over to the source of the song.
She gazed around to make sure no one was guarding the place. Umbria reached the shed down, her ear pressed against the door. The song continued on. She put a handle to the door and turned the knob. Umbria groaned. Locked great! She soon noticed a keypad. And password protected! Just my luck!
Umbria fiddled with the code. Each peep made it dangerously obvious someone was intruding. She whipped her head around, so far no one came by. After five tries, she was almost ready to give up then she remembered when he first met Mr. Nongon. She punched:0732.
The door gave a satisfying click. Umbria smiled as she snuck inside. She nearly tripped as her shoes hit a nearby cable. She shut the door as quietly as she could. The moment she turned around, her jaw dropped in awe.
In a tube was a fox-like alien she'd never seen before. The fur was silver like mercury. A strange mass was wrapped around him. Fox ears that twitched at almost every sound. Silver eyes opened slowly to Umbria standing in front of her.
Umbria stood where she was. Her mind froze to the marvelous sight, her eyes locked onto the alien. Then, she leaned back as the creature raised his head as if he could hear her thoughts.
The fox alien tilted his head to one side. The masses moved around, only to reveal nine beautiful tails coiled around it tightly. It straightened as much as the tube would allow.
Umbria gulped. “H-hello…can you hear me?” She was met with no response. Of course he can’t! She thought. He’s practically in a fishtank! “Would you like to get out and stretch? I’m sure you’ve been in there long enough.”
In the small space it had, it nodded slowly.
Umbria clapped her hands together. She went over to the controls and went to have a look. There were seven buttons that were of the same color and shape. All of them were in a straight line. She grimaced. “Uh…How does this work?” She pressed a random button in the middle.
The room buzzed as sparks of electricity surrounded the pod. The creature writhed in pain, slamming its body against the glass. A howl of pain erupted from the glass, then it subsided.
Umbria shrieked. “I’m so sorry! Are you ok?!”
The creature nodded. It pressed its head against the surface. The claws soon appeared out of the mass of fur. He soon pulled out a number.
“Four?” Umbria looked at the buttons. She counted them at the left and pressed the button. She watched in amazement as the liquid in the pod drained and the glass slowly lifted up. She tried to run over to the fox alien as it fell down to the floor. As she caught him, she lost her balance and fell over.
The alien coughed, then he got up slowly. He shook the water off of his fur and helped Umbria up. His tails stretched and twisted. “Are you ok?”
Umbria groaned. “I’m fiiii-aaaahhhh! You can talk!” She found a wet claw on her lips.
—------------(Back to present)----------------------------------------------
Don Wei chuckled. “Not exactly the ideal meeting, huh?” He rubbed his head as the pain came back.
Umbria gave a dry laugh. “It didn’t help that he didn’t have any clothes on.” She coughed. “However, when I learned about the aliens being held captive alongside Mercu, I had to act.”
Don Wei leaned forward, eyes concentrated on Umbria’s shape. “You’re the tipoff to the police.”
Umbria coughed again. “I was but I had to get Mercu away because I didn’t trust any other human that would be safe with him. Not even the president.” She gave a smile. “So, I hid him in my family’s cabin deep in the northern woods. We talked, laughed and well…” Her cheeks flushed. “You get the picture.”
Don Wei smiled. “Kind of like me and Maya.”
Umbria frowned. “However, it wasn’t long until Mercu had to leave.”
Don Wei raised a brow. “What? But…did he know you were pregnant?”
Umbria nodded. “Yes, but it would be dangerous if anyone found out about a human/alien. When Lydia was born, I decided to raise her as a human for the time being while Mercu continued hiding among the stars.”
“Why?” Don asked.
“Because that whelp has the last Starpelt blood in her!”
Don Wei got up as two figures walked into the room. He shielded his eyes as harsh light flooded the room. He gritted his teeth as his head throbbed even worse before. Once they adjusted he got up from his spot and gasped in pure horror.
There were humans that seemed to be stuck in half-transformation in cells much like his. Some had enlarged hands. Others with reddened or oily black skin with spikes jutting out. Larger cages sat at one of the room, all of them filled with every kind of nightmare that even Don Wei would never dream of. Feral hisses and snarls filled the room. Standing in the middle of it was none other than Dr. Nongon himself.
The lanky professor stood tall amongst the chaos. He was dangerously close to Umbria as he leaned over and glared at her. Next to him was the President of the Earth Coloition. The balding man was just as surprised as Don was.
“What’s going on here?!” The President asked. “I thought you’ve created a solution to our problem!”
“Solution?!” Don Wei marched over to the bars. “You call kidnapping humans a solution? A solution to what?”
Dr. Nongon smiled. “Why to the Crog problem. I was tasked to make some super soldiers that are clever enough and strong enough to take an entire army of two hundred.” He lost his smile as a hunk of vomit landed on the floor a few feet next to him. “Well…I was partially successful.”
“Partially?” The president roared. “Our situation has just gotten worse! Those suits didn’t give the poison and now Lydia’s under Crog imprisonment.”
Don Wei nearly fell backward in shock. Umbria let out a squawk. All the humans just stare up at the president and scientist.
Dr. Nongon didn’t seem troubled by this. “Well. At least we know where to find her. What about the rest of the crew?”
“Still unknown but now they’ve expanded to more aliens!” The president cracked a smile. He rubbed his head. “At this rate the world is doomed!”
Dr. Nongon shrugged. “Oh well. I’ll find them soon enough. However, there’s still a good deal of you to take care of.”
The President stared at him in confusion. Before he could say anything, he grunted as something pricked his back. He turned around to see a furry black tail holding a needle. He looked at Dr. Nongon, who just gave him another smile, then fell to the floor.
Don Wei shook in pure horror as he saw nine tails sticking out from behind the doctor. A heavy realization crawled into his mind. He’s not human.

Chapter Text

Lydia yawned as she stretched in her bed. She rubbed at the sore muscles that hung around her body. Her fox ears drooped against her skull. She felt something nudge against her leg and sleepily turned her head. “Morning Ishtar.”
Ishtar let out a loud yawn, a piece of the sheet hung onto her tusks. “Morning Mistress…”
Alon shifted around one of Lydia’s tails as he awoke, eyes half closed. “Is it morning already?”
Symphony popped right beside him, she looked over a window. “Looks like it.”
A knock turned everyone’s attention to the door. Even before it opened, Lydia can still smell the food that was cooked. She licked her lips. “Come in.”
The door opened to reveal a Crog servant with a cart of the local food. He gave a cheery expression upon seeing Lydia and her familiars. “Got the usual today.” He rolled it over as Lydia got up from her spot to put on a robe.
Lydia smiled. “Thank you, Pisces. You did a wonderful job as usual.”
Pisces ears perked up. “Thank you ma’m not many Crogs cook and they find the likes of me useless.” He looked at his own hands, the bandaged appendages shaking as he looked at them.
Lydia took his hands. “You’re not. I know not letting others get to you is hard, but once you’re surrounded by those you care about…” She gave a sad smile. “It gets better.”
Pisces gave a sympathetic nod. “Thank you, I’m sure your crew will love that.” He thought for a moment. “By the way, what are your favorite foods for each of your crew members?”
Lydia chuckled. “I’m afraid their favorites aren’t something you can find here, but I’ll join you in the kitchen later.”
“Don’t make too many promises now.” A voice rang across the room. “You still have a lot to do today.”
Lydia and Pisces turned to see Prince Scorpio in the doorway, joined by his cousin Leo and Blazing Stars sat on his head. Lydia blushed at the sight of Scorpio. He was more regal now with all the silver jewels around his neck and shoulders.
“Morning Scorpio,” Lydia said. Her eyes went bright and her tails wagged, almost knocking over the cart.
Pisces ears went straight up. “Your highness! Uh…Sorry, I’ll be going now. Bye Lydia.” He snuck away as best as he could under the gaze of Scorpio and Leo.
Scorpio sighed, his ears dropped. “Just only a few weeks and already she’s made herself acquaintances here.”
Leo laughed. “Ha! She certainly has a charm that her fellow humans are blind to. No wonder she caught your eye! How come you haven't asked her to marry yet?”
Scorpio’s ears shot upright. He flinched, but tried to remain his composure. “Yes…Well…What about you and Hemlock? How come I’m not hearing wedding bells yet?”
At this, Leo’s own ears popped up. He glared at his cousin. “Cousin!”
Lydia watched the two cousins fight each other. It had only been a few weeks since she’s been with the duo, but she felt as if she found herself a new home. The first couple of days had been tense after her little stunts with the court. Most of the Horde leaders were leery of her and would try to throw certain tasks that would threaten her life. However, they were met with nasty surprises from her familiars. Ishtar being the most determined of the three to make sure no one tried to backstab Lydia.
Little by little, they all began to be a little more open to Lydia. She began learning more about the language of the Crogs and would teach sign language lessons to anyone who wished to learn it. She even had fun learning cooking techniques, but the live kill was a little hard to handle at times. The best times she had was doing weapons training with Hemlock and Leo.
Lydia also noticed Hemlock growing more attracted to Leo each day. However, she was only able to give a small amount of information to Lydia that her client had disguised himself to prevent further identification. As discouraging as it was, Lydia figured it was better than nothing.
Lydia giggled. “Come on you two. Quit fighting, we need to get plans ready.”
As Lydia munched on her breakfast, she listened to today’s schedule. Right now, they’re to have a meeting with the king in regards to figuring out who was framing them. Lydia’s tails lowered at this. Easier said than done. The other was to find Lydia’s crew and set up some arrangements for earth without plunging into war.
“Oh. I almost forgot,” Prince Scorpio said. “Mother was wondering if you’d like to play with Virgo today! She says my little sister gets really excited seeing you.”
Lydia’s tails wagged. “Sure. I’d like that.”
Just as she said those words, everything around them began to rumble. Plates, vases and furniture rattled around the room. Faint crashes and shouts echoed across the hall. Crogs shouting at a far distance.
Alon raised his head. “What’s going on?”
A Crog guard burst into the room. “Your majesty! We have a situation! There’s a large ship outside our palace and it’s not alone.”
It wasn’t long until roars and more shouting filled the room. A scream filled the hall.
“Hemlock!” Leo ran out of the room.
Lydia, Scorpio and the guard ran after him in pursuit. Their familiars at their side. They were halfway to the throne room when they saw Hemlock. Not only that, but there were more mutated monsters than ever before.
Hemlock fought off one mutated creature that resembled a wolf as she clutched her side. Blood oozed out from her fingers. Leo closed in on them and grabbed the creature. She laughed as he flung it away. “Great timing.”
Lydia ran to her. “That looks horrible! What happened? Is Cassiopeia ok?”
“Yeah! After the incident, she ran to Virgo and the two book it to safety.” Hemlock grimaced as Lydia pulled the hand away from her side. “Emperor Dusk decided to fight them off.”
Just as Hemlock said that, a Crog went flying down a hall and landed with a thud. His armor was torn in a few places. A creature was about to jump on him but Ishtar came and knocked the creature down.
“We’ll need to hurry!” Lydia said. She lifted her ears as she heard something growling. The small patch of fur on her arms stood on end. “There’s something close by and it’s coming for me.”
Scorpio turned into the direction. He stepped in front of Lydia. “Leo, take Hemlock to the infirmary. Tell all men to barricade the doors.”
Leo picked up Hemlock despite her protests. “Right! Just come to us alive, you heroic idiots!” He ran in the other direction, swinging his weapon upon approaching enemies.
Lydia and Scorpio faced the hallway again. As the sounds of battle began to fade around them, the growling was soon replaced by the clacking of shoes. By the sound of them, they were very polished. Clapping soon followed. The duo stared in shock as the mysterious figure came into view.
“Dr. Nongon,” Lydia breathed. Her eyes wide, her foot moved back an inch. “What are you doing here?”
Scorpio turned at her in confusion. “Wait? You know him?”
Lydia turned to him. “He’s the one who made the suits and prepared the-” Her eyes went wide. “The ship…” She turned back to the doctor. “It was all you. Wasn’t it?”
Dr. Nongon gave a crooked smile. He clapped in a sarcastic manner, his eyes never taking off the two. “Congradulations. You’ve figured it all out. I knew you were smart. Well…about as smart as your mother was when she worked for me.”
Lydia’s eyes widened. “My mother? We…Just met, how could’ve you known her?”
Scorpio put a protective hand in front of Lydia. “Lydia…” He spoke as low as he could, his voice edged with fear. “Look at his shadow.”
Lydia followed his gaze and fought back her shriek. She could make out a fox creature on the floor. Her mind went back to the jungle and Scorpio lying on the ground. She begged for him to stay alive while a monstrous ninetailed fox loomed over them. She could only remember lunging at the monster with all her rage. Her eyes went cold, mouth drawn up into a snarl as she showed her teeth.
Dr. Nongon smiled. “So, you finally recognized me after all this time.”
Scorpio turned to Lydia. “Lydia, what is he talking about?”
Lydia growled, ears pinned and tails puffed out. “He’s the one who kidnapped us! He’s also the monarch at Arge’s planet!”
“Dear me, how do you know that?” Dr. Nongon’s mocking tone started to become more guttural. Ninetails started to sprout out from behind him.
Lydia pointed to a necklace that hung on Dr. Nongon’s neck. It was silver with a cluster of light blue crystals shimmered in the light. “I’ve been on his planet for a short time, but I did notice it peaking out along with your lab tag.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I missed that after being sick and beaten.”
Dr. Nongon’s mouth shifted, teeth round sharp. More fur was growing around his neck. Fox ears popped out of his skull, his dark eyes turned blood red. His bones popped and crackled as he grew to the size of a Crog Triton.
Prince Scorpio’s ears flattened against his skull. His whole body quaked at the sight. He felt Lydia’s small hand intertwine with his. They both backed away together, never taking their eyes off of Dr. Nongon.
“Awwww…” The monster growled. “Don’t you two look cute. Just like you were kids. You two were quite the survivalists and resilient souls. I should’ve been more careful when I took you both.”
“Why?!” Scorpio yelled. “Why would you do that?”
Dr. Nongon let out a hollow laugh. “There was a prophecy among my people. One that spoke of two beings from different words bringing a new age of life throughout the corners of the galaxy. It is said that it would end my rule and revive the Kinstella race.” He shook his head. “The Kinstellas are fools same as Crogs and humans. All of them struggling with a power they’ve never had to begin with. The only race that ever did were the creators and they’ve been all but wiped out.”
Scorpio’s eyes went wide. “The Creators? I thought they were just a story!”
Lydia grimaced. “No…They’re real.”
“Real and foolish,” Dr. Nongon responded. “They use their power to create life. Legend spoke how one of them made children with the first Kinstella and our descendants came from them. We could’ve ruled over all!” He laughed, then shook his head. “But no…No. We chose a life of living on our own planet and even…mate with humans.”
“Mercu.” Lydia uttered the name. “The Starpelt have most of the Creators’ blood.”
“Now tainted by the two of you!” Dr. Nongon lunged at them, teeth bared.
“Lydia run!” Scorpio yelled. He pushed her away just before he got pinned by the Nongon’s paws.
Lydia gasped at the pain that ran along her arms. She looked up to see Scorpio pushing back at the Nongon’s pure white jaws, saliva dripping down. Panic rose inside her. She felt her body ache, bones shifting as she moved toward them. More fur grew on her body and turned into a bright silver color. Teeth sharp and she was about as big as Nongon. She bit hard into Nongon’s shoulder. Her body took on light blue and white highlights as she clawed at him.
Nongon’s red markings appeared in a flash. Shadows bleed out of the walls as the monster lunges at Lydia. He tried to go after Scorpio again, but was met by Ishtar’s tusks. Each attack he tried was met by the familiars in each attack.
Scorpio got up from the spot. He grabbed the nearest weapon his could find. He drew the sword and swung it down on the tail. He was met with a hard glare. “Not so easy now that I’m a grown-up, huh?”
Nongon stared at the slash mark on one of his tails. He snarled. “ENOUGH!” A shockwave pulsated out of his body.
Lydia, Scorpio and the familiars were tossed away. They all hit a wall and the familiars shifted back to their original forms. They all grunted in pain. Before anyone could even think of a counter attack, they were soon wrapped up in shadows. Lydia struggled the most, she snarled and bit down.
“Let’s try this again,” Dr. Nongon said. He sat down, but his tails were stretched out. He gazed at Lydia. “How about I intrigue you on a deal.”
Lydia growled. “You’re insane! As if I’d make a deal with you!”
Dr. Nongon chuckled. “I think this might change your mind.” His tails peeled away like bananas to reveal Lydia’s mother, Don Wei and the rest of the crew. They struggled and writhed under the mass of tails.
“Mom!” Lydia cried, tears streamed out of her eyes. She turned her head to Dr. Nongon. “Let them go!”
“Uh-uh!” Dr. Nongon shook his head. “Not so fast. There’s only one thing that I want. If you comply, I’ll let them go.”
Prince Scorpio reached out for her. “Don’t…don’t do it!” His body slammed against the floor before he had a chance to react. He laid still.
Lydia gasped. She closed her eyes for a moment, tears running down her eyes. “I’ll do it.” She showed her teeth. “But you better keep your word.”
Dr. Nongon’s smile only grew wider as his tails parted, only for her friends to fall down. Then, as her mother fell down, he swiped at her with a paw, causing Umbria to fly seven feet until she hit a wall.
“No!” Lydia howled. She was wrapped in all nine tails, the air escaping her lungs. She looked at her friends and Scorpio in pure horror. They were lying unconscious on the ground, spears hanging above them. She began to glow and the weapons turned to ash. She gave Dr. Nongon a defiant smile as her glow grew stronger.
Dr. Nongon snarled. “Enough of this! I’ll have this power!” A black orb swallowed him and Lydia whole just as Emperor Dusk, his wife and their warriors arrived. The entire room went silent with only scraps of silver fur left behind.

Chapter Text

Eva and the others sat in silence in the infirmary. She glanced at Umbra, Lydia’s mother. Her heart twisted at the idea of how much Lydia tried her best for whatever remained of her mother. She looked at her own bandages and balled up her fist in frustration.
Don Wei sat down beside his daughter. His head was wrapped up in bandages. He sighed as he looked at her. “You doing ok?”
Eva punched her pillow on her bed. “Frustrated. I just…I just wished that I could’ve done much more for her.”
Don Wei put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. “You did all that you could. It was thanks to you that we have proof that all the events so far were a set-up.”
Eva turned her gaze back to Umbra. “Her mom’s safe, but she’s not.” She flinched as heavy footsteps sounded behind her. She found herself staring up at Prince Scorpio. She grimaced as she felt the fury in the gaze.
“Make no mistake,” Prince Scorpio hissed. His ears twitched violently on his head. “Dr. Nongon is going to pay dearly for what he’s done!”
Don Wei shielded Eva, giving the prince a nervous glance. “With all due respect, your highness, how do you plan on doing so? We have no idea where they’ve gone or have a full proof strategy of getting Lydia out.”
Prince Scorpio glared at him for a moment. Then, Blazing Stars crawled onto his head and laid down. The Crog Prince sighed. “Forgive me…I…I’m worried for Lydia. She’s saved our lives. I can’t bear to have her under the care of such a monster.”
Rush, further down by two beds, snorted. “Good luck with that. We need more magic beyond our years to handle that!”
Eva’s eyes stared into space. The word “magic beyond our years” repeated in her head. Then, she got up. “We might not have that, but I know someone who can!”
—------------(Meanwhile)---------------------------------------------------
Lydia coughed and wheezed as pain roiled through her body. Ever since Dr. Nongon had taken her, the doctor had been putting her through one experiment after another. The cell floor was hard rock against her cheeks. Her fur was matted in cold sweat, her skin lacerated around her arms and legs. She gave the doctor a wicked grin.
Dr. Nongon growled at her. “Smile while you can, pup. Rest assured, you’ll be going through another stage of pain. You will help me rule these galaxies whether you like it or not.” He walked off into the darkness.
Lydia curled her tails in on herself. She wished her familiars and Blazing Stars would cuddle in her tails. The sounds of laughter filled her ears. How she wanted to be held in Scorpio’s arms again. Feel the warmth of his skin and his golden eyes glowing against the loathsome darkness. She closed her eyes. At least they’re all safe.
—----------------(Back to Kramm)----------------------------------------------
Eva and Aikka were arranging the symbols around the ballroom. The black dust Saggitarius had provided glittered across the red floor. The others stood against the wall, watching the whole process unfold.
Don Wei looked at Sagittarius. “Do you think this’ll work?”
Sagittarius lowered down as best as he could, putting a hand to cover the conversation. “Not sure, but this is the closest thing to be considered ‘spiritual’ around here. So, let’s hope for the best.”
The group watched as Eva and Aikka drew the last portion of the symbol. They backed away as Eva poured a dark blue liquid from the center down a straight line. Eva spoke in an old alien language that Lydia had managed to teach her before she was taken. Aikka followed in unison. As they spoke, the lines took on a golden glow.
Before long, a pink tornado appeared. The wind whipped around them. Gales screamed to the point that any talking would be pointless. Then, it settled to reveal the long-awaited avatar. He stood tall, a human-like face with a wild man of hair. He gave a sad smile to Eva and Aikka. “Hello you two. It’s been a long time hasn’t it?”
Eva gave a sad smile, tears streamed down her cheeks. “Yeah it has.” She wiped them away. “Avatar, we need your help. A dear friend of ours is taken. She’s very powerful and the enemy who took her is going to use her for his own sick game.”
The Avatar sighed. His frown deepened. “Unfortunately, I know about this. However, my influence as you know it is limited.”
“What?!” Rush yelled. “You can’t be serious! Can you at least locate where she’d be?”
The Avatar nodded. “Yes, but the rest will not be easy. Right now, I can assist you with location. However, your enemy has grown in power that almost rivals my own.”
“Why’s that?” Brinnia asked.
Emperor Dusk groaned. “Of course…The Kitstella are descendants of the creators.”
Everyone else shouted in horror. Argen cried while Sagittarius comforted him. Spirit was trembling, Rush letting out a string of curses and Don Wei stared down the floor in pure dismay.
Ishtar, Alon, Symphony and Blazing Stars all glanced at each other. They whispered a few words in the maddening din. Then, Ishtar grew large and let out a loud bellow. Once everyone turned her attention to her. “Wait a minute! Wait a minute! I think we know a way to help Lydia!”
Leo glared at Ishtar. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?! It would’ve spared the effort.”
Ishtar glared back. “Excuse me for not being filled with shock at what happened to my mistress.”
Aikka cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should get to the discussion before we lose Lydia.”
Ishtar huffed. She turned to Hemlock. “You know your clients, right? Can you retrace the signal back to your client?”
Hemlock thought for a moment. “I usually do, but the call I got has a heavily encrypted system. Hard for me to use even if I tried.”
Sagittarius raised a hand. “Perhaps I can help with that.” He flinched under the Emperor’s gaze. “I…have done some tinkering in the past. Nothing extreme, but I try to make sure all radios work.” His ears lowered. “Sometimes…finding…frequencies I shouldn’t have been involved with.”
Emperor Dusk sighed. “As much as I don’t approve of lower-tiered Crogs managing them…We’re going to need all the help we can get. For Lydia’s sake.”
—-------------(Lydia, unknown location)-----------------------------------
Lydia coughed as the poison in her body took a massive toll. It was equally painful as being beaten by nine tails, but more exhausting than the poison the Crogs gave her. Each movement made her limbs feel as if they’ve been turned to stone. Her lungs were making it harder to have the effort to breathe. She went tumbling back as she was hit by another black tail.
“Impressive,” Dr. Nongon growled. “You’ve handled five doses and still can take a few hits.”
Lydia just chuckled. “After running into a few near death situations, I’ve gotten used to it at this point.” She was met with another blow to the face. She found herself pressed to the ground.
“Enough of that!”’ The Doctor gave a sickening grin. “Unless you want to meet the rest of the kin.”
Lydia only smiled. “I can’t wait to see the other pelts.”
Dr. Nongon growled in frustration. He picked Lydia up with his other tails and tossed her into the cell. He stared at her for a moment then stalked away.
Lydia paid no mind to the pain in her body. She was just glad that her latest round of testing was over. She laid down and began to review everything that she knew so far in her head. The paths and route to take. The carefully modified routine. The possible victims that he collected over the years. If I can find someone that is willing to listen, I might get out of here. She tried to get up, but the pain had only left her immoble.
“Hello, little one.” A soft voice rang out. “You have a strange scent. Pretty brave of you to face Nongon like that.”
Lydia gave a weak smile. “I wasn’t always like that?” She gave a hoarse laugh. “Want to make a coup?”
A heavy silence followed her answer. She could see faint glimmers of eyes darting from one person to the next. Slowly, one of them stepped into the lighting. It had a sandy pelt with large ears.
“Tell us what we need to do,” The Sandpelt said.
—----------------(Back at the ship, in space)---------------------------------------
“Are you sure this will work?” Aikka asked as Saggitarius ran the schematics. “I don’t think Earth would be willing to comply with a rescue mission.”
Sagittarius finished the last of the calculations before he turned to him. “More of the reason why we allowed Eva and Don Wei to return to Earth with the evidence. They’ll most likely listen to them then to us.”
Aikka sighed. He slumped back down in the chair and gazed next to Prince Scorpio. He took note that the Crog Prince was holding onto a sword, staring at the reflection. He looked down at his own arrows. Most were recovered but there’s only five that seemed stable enough to take down foes.
“Lydia…” Prince Scorpio uttered. He looked at the monitor. In the image was the map of the planet system that Emperor Dusk was in before the ambush. The signal that Saggittarius had managed to create with the help of Hemlock handing in the signal. His heart pounded at the sight of a lone planet that was the color of emerald green. “We’re coming…Just hold on.”
—------------(Lydia, unknown location)-----------------------------------
Lydia’s throat was sore. Her eyes hurt even more as a spotlight hit her. The stitches on her legs were already purple from one of the latest “surgeries”. She could only give her best smile as Dr. Nongon got in front of her cage, this time in his human form. “Round two already? I guess you really are sadistic.”
Dr. Nongon said nothing. He only opened the cage and summoned his tails. He dragged her out, letting his stitchwork rub against the floor. He paid no mind to the trail of blood that was being produced under it.
Lydia grimaced, but she let out a small wink to the nearest creature she could find. With all her might, she used one of her tails and tossed a nearby object to a Fire Pelt nearby. It didn’t take long for her to be tossed into an arena with more lights searing down on her.
Dr. Nongon shifted back into his original Kitsunella form. “You brought this on yourself, you know that.” He circled around her then whistled. Before long, a few more Kitsunella stalked toward them. “You could’ve had all the power in the world by joining me, but instead, you decided to make things difficult with that stunt you pulled earlier.”
Lydia got up, blood dripping out of her mouth. “Now there’s a huge difference between the two of us. As well…as my father.” She jumped out of the way as Fire Pelt Kistella charged at her. A warped monster phased out of the wall and grabbed her leg. She bit on the creature’s arm, dragging it out of the wall. She pinned it down. “You crave power and attention because you were born a hybrid.” A shadow materialized by her feet and she jumped out of the way. One of her tails was grabbed and she was tossed into the other side. “You use your powers to make yourself feel better.”
Dr. Nongon shifted back into his monstrous form, the red lines blazed in fury. His teeth sank into her shoulder as he pinned her down. To his shock, he was met by a laugh. He crunched down on the shoulder.
“Even now, you’re just using these powers to tear me apart,” Lydia grinned. She shifted her head and bit down his forearm. She scrambled out of his grip and faced him once more. “Me on the other hand, I fight for those I care about. I want to untie galaxies and make the world bigger than it had in the past. Same that happened to my father. That’s why my mother and him…loved him so much!” She reared up on her paws and slammed them down. The earth rattled, creating a shockwave.
All the monsters, except for Dr. Nongon, flew in all directions. They lay motionless on the ground. Some were able to get up and inch away from the fight.
“Even with all this poison,” Lydia continued, taking a step towards him. “Even with all the hate and fear you’ve instilled in the alien races, I still found light and love in places that were considered long since dead. Even if I’m dead, I know there are those brave enough to face you. You’ve already lost.”
Dr. Nongon growled. This time he let loose all of his attacks on her. His tails slammed into her side. Claws tore into the fresh stitching. He bit into her other shoulder, breaking the bone in the process.
Lydia could only think of Scorpio. Her body began to shrink down. Darkness reached the corners of her eyes. She was tired, but she was at peace…knowing that Scorpio, Eva and all the people she’s met in her life are safe.
A golden light flashed above them. She opened her eyes to see a looming figure in red robes appear between them. She got up slowly as the figure turned to her. “Are you…” She was about to say Jordan, but thought against it. “The Avatar?”
The Avatar turned his head. He had a human-like face, with long, glowing hair. He smiled at her. “Be at peace, Lydia. Help is on the way.”
“Lydia!”
Lydia turned her head. She smiled as she saw Scorpio rushing up towards her. Behind him, she saw all their familiars fighting off silver monsters. Then, she let out a howl. It was low, but grew louder with every passing minute. Her grey hair turned into a bright silver color. More howls followed after. She smiled as Scorpio picked her up.
Scorpio and Dr. Nongon stared in shock as the Kinstellas all walked up toward him. Their eyes locked on the glowing red Kinstella hybrid with anger. Tails raised high.
Lydia moved her body up, ignoring the pain that goes through her. She was able to get enough strength to reach Scorpio’s ear. “Run…” She whispered.
Prince Scorpio looked up to see that a good number of Kistellas attacked Dr. Nongon along with the monsters that remained standing. He ran, cradling Lydia’s body with one arm and sword in the other. “Blazing Stars! Clear a path!”
Fire exploded around them, creating a path that led to the ship just outside of the entrance. The withered plants hung against the backdrop like a curtain. Running beside them were some of the Kistellas, Ishtar, and Alon. On the ship was Sagittarius, his hands reaching out to them.
Scorpio leaped, and the cool air rushed at him. He felt Blazing Stars land on his shoulders. He landed on the metallic floor. He briefly turned to see Ishtar, Alon, and Symphony shrink down and crash into his head. He fell backward.
“Where’s Aikka?!” Sagittarius asked. He leaned forward to help him up. He flinched as Kistella prisoners moved around to make space, some even held monsters in their jaws.
“I’m coming!” Aikka shouted. He appeared just as another blast of fire erupted. Behind him, Dr. Nongon chased after him. A creature of pure madness. “Start the engine!”
Sagittarius frantically pressed every button he could think of. The machine hummed to life. The metal door was about to seal when it was pulled down by Dr. Nongon. The crew screamed as the massive black head tried to power through the mechanism.
“You think you can stop me?!” Dr. Nongon snarled. He snapped at them, only to give a solid kick to the jaw. “I’ll just keep coming back. No galaxy will help you! I will end you! Devour all that comes to my jaws!”
Prince Scorpio drew out his blade and slashed at Dr. Nongon’s face. “I’d like to see you try.” He got up. To his shock, nine fox tails manifested behind him, covered in spikes. They stabbed Dr. Nongon until he slipped out of the door, causing it to fully close.
The familiars and the Kitstellas all cheered with delight. “Let’s head home,” Ishtar cried.
Lydia gave a tired smile. Her eyes began to dull, eyelids drooped. “Sc-Scorpio…Th-thank you…” She closed her eyes.
Scorpio rubbed her back. Then, he noticed something felt off. He rubbed her harder; no response. At this, he began to grow frantic. He lowered her to his arms. “Lydia? Lydia!” He turned to Sagittarius. “Get her into hyperdrive to Kraam now!”