-Catgirl-of-Bavaria-: Hey everyone! That's right, a new one from the Catgirl! This one's a wee bit different, as it's not a sequel to Oban Star Racers. Nor is it a one-shot reflection on Aikka's feelings of regret towards his attacks on Molly, his desires to help his parents or what have you. No, I'm trying something a little different than what I've seen thus far in here and what I myself have done. I actually got this idea from a fanfic I read once upon a time in the Spirited Away section, only with Haku. I'm hoping it turns out alright in terms of response and what you guys think about it.

So, what exactly is it? Well, it's the show, of course. Only this time, it's from Aikka's point of view. And, well, yes, it reflects on his regrets towards his relationship with Molly, and it does deal with his need to help his parents. But I'm going to try to dig a little deeper, as to the why's and reasons our dear prince does what he does. Heck, I'm even considering it as a sort of prequel to Aftermath of Oban, as I'm using the same design and characters for Nourasia to tell it. You'll even see a character here in this chapter! ;) Though that's probably the most you'll see of him. So, I hope you all enjoy it as much as you seem to be enjoying Aftermath, and hopefully I'll get a lot of love for this one as well! It'll also be something I can keep you insatiable fans of mine busy on when I'm not madly at work on Aftermath! X3

Disclaimer: I don't own Oban, and I don't claim to. And I'm broke, too, so don't sue unless you want a few nickels, dimes and pennies for your trouble! Oh, yes, and Aikka's thoughts and emotions towards Eva and otherwise throughout the procession of the show are as I have read them to be.

Episode 1

A New Chance

The day dawned red in the city of Dalaan, royal city and gateway to Daal, the center of the planet known as Nourasia. As the Nourasian star rose steadily and slowly to share the sky with the couple of moons, the city below the palace began to awaken and set itself into life. Native birds, as well as young beetles from the wild forests could be heard rejoicing the new day with soothing songs.

Inside the palace was no exception to the awakening that came with the new day. And in fact, on this particular day, the palace was suddenly bustling with activity, maids and servants milling to and fro, even the King and his Queen had awoken early. Today was the day that posed a great opportunity and importance for them, their entire kingdom. Today, their prince would depart for a race.

Ironically, this prince wasn't even awake yet.

Emitting a low groan from his seat in his window alcove, the young heir of the kingdom shifted, finding himself cramped from the few hours of sleep he did achieve in his stone nook. True, there was a cushion beneath him separating him from the stone, but it proved to not be enough for the comfort of slumber.

He narrowly opened his drowsy eyes, revealing bright sapphires to the world. It took a few seconds for him to completely register what day it was, and his purpose on that day. His eyes suddenly widened, and he found himself quite alert. He pulled himself up from his seat of slumber, figuring that his mentor would be around for him any moment, to escort him off to departure.

Flinging himself into his finest racing clothing and quickly arguing with his hair, the prince then splashed himself with some cold water from the basin on the one side of his room. Reaching for a cloth to dry off his tan face, he heard the distinctive knock of his master on his door.

"Prince Aikka, now is the time to arise," Canaan's voice filtered through the heavy wood of the door, and Aikka quickly scrubbed the water droplets off of his face.

"Yes, I am up, Canaan," Aikka answered from behind the towel, and he heard the door open a bit. With a bow, his master entered his chambers.

"My prince, the king and queen are ready to see you off, along with, ah, our allies…" Canaan looked off at the last words, and Aikka looked grimly at the bottom of the basin as he set the towel off to the side.

This was what it had come to, over all the years he'd been in this world, he'd known little different. The Nourasian's allies were not their allies after all, simply conquerors; his parents had always kept him alert to that fact. It was his family's only choice but to accept the race of the Crogs as anything else, simply because of the ratio of sheer power. It had been this way all of his life, since before he was born, his people had always been at their mercy. He'd observed it all his life from the windows and terraces of the palace. It wasn't an unusual sight to see a Crog towering over his people in the streets, nor for a red glow to paint the skies during some nights.

But now, there was a chance that all of that could change. The hold that the Crogs had established over his kingdom could be released, if he played his cards right. He remembered just a few nights ago, when this had been presented to him.

--

His parents had called him to their throne in the holy city, the one place that was still protected from the Crogs' occupation, and consequently the one place they knew they wouldn't be overheard.

Aikka knew what this summoning heralded, at least the importance of it. He could only wonder on what it was about as he walked down the expanse to the inner walls of Daal. Escorted as usual with Canaan, his fencing master and overall mentor, the trip was a quiet one. When at last they made it to the throne room, they were met with solid looks from both of his parents, though his mother's seemed to carry more reluctance.

Bowing at the door, Canaan allowed the prince onward, to where he sank to a knee himself before his mother and father. His mother smiled kindly at him, and his father still stared sternly at him. It was a normal welcome for him, though he knew in his heart, this meeting was nowhere near ordinary.

"You wished to see me, father?" Aikka suggested quietly, not returning to his feet.

"My son, you may stand, are we not family?" Queen Nori suggested to her son before the king said anything. Aikka looked to his father, and rose when he saw approval.

"Aikka, the matter we must here discuss is of great importance." King Lao began, his voice strong. "The Crogs are entering a race, the Great Race of Oban, and it is the General's wish that you, our kingdom's finest rider, accompany their racer as an ally in the race." Lao's eyes had lost some of the luster they had before, and Aikka felt his breath hitch.

"What are the terms of the race? What would I be assisting them in achieving?" Aikka asked rigidly, his own brilliant blue orbs losing a bit of their original shine. The thought of helping the Crogs in whatever conquest ventures they had in store, helping them put more innocent lives under their command left a bad feeling in his stomach; he truly wanted no part in it.

"I am not sure on the true intentions of the Crogs' involvement in the race, however," Lao took in a deep breath; it was true, the General, Kross, had left out any purposes that he had for racing, but he could only imagine that it was a bad omen for his people, as well as any other victims that the Crogs would claim.

"However, I am informed that this is a race of great influence in this galaxy. It is only held every nine thousand or so years by our calendar, on the Mother planet of Oban in the center of our galaxy. From all of the planets that compete, there is one winner, one prize." Aikka looked expectantly at his father. "It is a prize of great gravity, it can influence the flow of power in the galaxy, it can herald the destruction, or the salvation of entire peoples…"

Aikka's eyes widened slightly at the amount of emphasis that his father had just placed on the last suggestion. As if the news that this had something to do with a supposed 'mother planet' wasn't enough, the possibilities that his father had described of the prize of being capable of, that was truly taking him off guard.

"My son, the prize of this race is the Ultimate Prize." Lao tilted his head down to the prince, having finally reached the peak of the discussion. "It will grant the winner any wish, any dream."

Aikka's breath finally succeeded in catching in his throat, causing a small sound to emit from him. This prize could really do that?

"What being could possibly do that?" Aikka asked curiously, a bit skeptical of the whole ordeal.

"The Avatar, my prince," Lao answered. "He is the protector of the galaxy, and the one who holds the race, who grants the wish at the end. He is a being of immense power. He came to us only a few seasons ago to alert us of this upcoming opportunity."

Aikka nodded, he knew that something over the last few years had changed in his parents; His father seemed more distant, if only slightly. His mother had become worrisome. His training in racing and combat had become more rigorous. He wondered why it had only been now, that he was informed of this new development, but instead decided to expand more on the possibilities of the prize, a topic that was both hopeful and daunting to him.

"Father, if I may, what would happen if the Crogs received this prize?" Aikka asked the question that the two of royalty and the fencing master behind him had been pondering for a longer time.

"I would not want to completely investigate that option, my prince…" His father answered grimly, only answering Aikka's question.

"So, I am expected to help them achieve this goal?" Aikka asked dryly, truthfully feeling a bit repulsed that it was being suggested. Before Lao had a chance to answer, Nori entered the discussion.

"My son, you can obviously see that terrible things can result from this race, but you must also understand that this race could also bring great fortune," her voice was soft against the rough silence that captured the throne room, as she looked at her son with blue eyes that were just as brilliant as his. "Imagine, what the Ultimate prize could do for our people! You could still inherit a free kingdom!"

"But if I am alliance with the Crogs, how would I be allowed to pull forward to win? Surely their racer would not allow it," Aikka said, liking the idea of actually freeing his people, but not daring to believe it was possible.

"Remember this, Aikka; alliance does not mean servitude. The Crogs may think it does, but you are always free in your own mind." Nori told him with a smile. "You must stay true to yourself and your code, and bring home the prize."

--

And so today he would depart for this race. The avatar's ship was probably soon to be waiting at the first plain of the racing grounds, where the king had earlier told him to go. The previous night had seen Aikka far too thoughtful to sleep, thus how he had somehow ended up sleeping in his window seat. Truthfully, he was presently running on fewer than two hours of sleep.

Equipping his new set of armor, designed new for the prince's trip, he again wondered over the prize. Could he really get that far? According to his father's word, there were first three planets that held qualifying races from ninety-six teams each. Each planet would put forth three teams out of those to race on Oban. True, he was the best racer on his planet, but would that hold up against other, more technologically advanced races?

Shrugging then into his hooded cloak, he designated to himself that he must manage it, somehow. This was the closest shot to freedom that his kingdom had seen in all the long years of the Crog's occupation. He had to take the chance.

He'd gone over his wish for encouragement these last few days, he had perfected it in his head.

"I wish for my people to be forever free of the Crogs,"

He repeated it in his mind, his sapphire eyes set forward and hardened as he and Canaan moved through the bridge hall, the connection between the palace and the beetle stables where his mount was kept. His grip tightened on his bow.

He would win the Ultimate Prize, no matter what the Crog racer had to say about it. He was in this race to win.

Drawing the doors open before him, the stable attendants bowed deeply to the prince as he passed through with his master. Star light poured into the cavernous structure, and glinted beautifully off of a large blue and white shell, the shell of his faithful mount, G'dar. The large beetle turned to greet his master, who in turn showed the beetle an affectionate pat and a smile. G'dar seemed to purr with excitement, obviously knowing what was coming just as much as the prince did. A fellow knight nodded to Aikka from just next to G'dar, and offered the prince a bag full of health supplies for the creature.

"He's alive today, Aikka, he obviously knows what he's in for." The knight grinned, brown eyes smiling with him. "Good luck to the both of you." Aikka returned a bow and a smile to the knight.

"Thank you, Takai, I intend to do my best." Aikka replied. Takai gave a grin and held his hand up in Nourasian fashion, which the prince didn't hesitate to match, placing his palm against Takai's, the both of them entwining their fingers to exhibit their friendship.

Turning to his mount, Aikka grinned at the large form of his companion.

"This is it, G'dar, the one you've been waiting for," Aikka smiled at his beetle, who responded with a light cry of agreement. Canaan motioned for the prince to join him atop the creature, and soon the prince was guiding G'dar for the door to the racing grounds.

Spreading vast wings, G'dar took quickly to the air, flying above the stands and out onto the first plain of the track. Though it really was a canyon, the first plain was a stretch where races usually began, it was a wider part of the canyon than was the track. Star light poured into the plain, and there from his perch on the descending G'dar, were his mother and father, along with a few Crogs.

Landing G'dar near the little meeting, Aikka inwardly glared at the largest Crog in the group, the one he knew as the general of the Crog Imperium, Kross. Knowing him, he was probably there only to taunt the prince as well as drill the so-called alliance into him, to try to make him obedient.

Leaping off of G'dar, the prince went straight to his parents, ignoring the Crog he passed, though he felt the one yellow eye boring into him with every step he took. Bowing before his mother and father, he tried not to pay too much attention to the two Crog warriors on either side of them. Easier said than done, however.

"I am ready, Mother, Father," Aikka said, coming back to his feet from his kneel. Nori smiled weakly at her son. She knew this would be a dangerous quest for the young prince, but in her heart knew it had to be done. She was proud that it could be her very own son to bring about the long-awaited peace to Nourasia. They had truly been blessed by the spirits to have such a chance.

"We wish you the best of luck, as do our people, young prince." Lao told his son proudly, though with a wary mental eye on the Crogs on either side of himself and his queen. He knew Aikka wouldn't like what the new deal was, but he knew, if the Crogs were to have the confidence that Aikka would follow them, it had to be done.

Even only to uphold a feeling of false security in the Crog Imperium.

"We ask you to remember our alliance, and not fret over us, my son." Lao continued, earning a look of sapphire confusion from the young prince.

"What do you mean, fret…?" Aikka asked. He heard Kross give a deep chuckle from behind him.

"Just a little matter of insurance, young prince," the general said, his uninjured eye narrowing to an amused slit. Aikka felt his own eyes widen as he turned his attention back to his parents.

The two Crog officers from either side had staked their claims on the King and Queen, their massive, gloved hands grasping the shoulders of the submissive royalty. As much as this disturbed him, Aikka dreaded the looks he saw on his parents faces; his mother wore one of deep regret as she gazed at him with eyes to match his own. His father looked reserved, almost willing.

"Mother! Father! What is the meaning of this, Kross!?" Aikka bristled, glaring daggers at both the captors and the general. Canaan had to place a hand on the Prince's shoulder to keep him from doing anything…drastic.

"As I said, Aikka. A matter of insurance." Aikka only growled and glared all the more at the foreign creature that was at least three times his own size. "If myself and my racer are pleased with your performance and cooperation by the end of the race, you shall be rewarded with the freedom of your parents."

Aikka suddenly understood everything, but that wasn't to say that he liked it…at all. So he was to fake his way through the races, just enough to have the Crogs believe he was their friend. He still needed the prize, however, so somewhere along the lines, he would have to rebel. And after doing that, it was doubly essential to win the prize. If he rebelled, but didn't achieve the prize…

It would certainly mean an end at the Crog's hand whether or not they won the prize either.

Aikka felt himself shaking at the gravity of it all. Such a razor-thin line he had to walk on his way to freedom for his people…and now his parents as well. His fists balled themselves up at his sides and he looked to his now captive parents before turning an icy blue glare at Kross.

"So be it." The Nourasian muttered. Kross would have smirked, had he a visible mouth as he stared back down at the prince.

"Very good. My Colonel looks forward to meeting you, do pay him a visit once you arrive, prince." Kross told the Nourasian.

Kross gave a hearty little cackle, and began off on his way. The Crogs holding his parents began to follow, consequently taking his parents away. Aikka had half a mind to run after and simply free his parents by force…

But his other half a mind knew he wasn't strong enough for such a feat. And how he hated it.

"Prince Aikka, it has come time to depart," Canaan said from beside him, indicating a spot in the sky.

Aikka then looked to the crimson sky, finding a new fixture there; a large, oblong structure, simply hovering in mid-air, rotating lethargically. A swirling symbol sat up towards the top of the thing, and suddenly began glowing gold as it grew closer. Soon enough, all Aikka could see directly above him was the egg-shaped vessel, before it seemingly split itself into thirds, with that same glowing gold light.

G'dar was heard cackling curiously as the gold light descended to meet them, and not long after, picking them up as if all gravity on their fair planet had failed them. Aikka looked with wide eyes as his sandaled feet left the racing ground. G'dar seemed to be in wonderment at how he had been lifted off the ground without the aid of his wings, but folded his legs underneath him anyway, decidedly content with the whole matter. Canaan had his own share of wonderment, but soon went back to being his stoic self.

Halfway up, Aikka caught sight of his parents, still a Crog's arm length away from their captors, standing just at the edge of the first plain, watching them all ascend to the odd vessel. He could almost hear his mother's voice in his head again, and he was hard-pressed to figure out if she were telepathically speaking to him, or if he was simply recalling her advice.

"Stay true to yourself and your code…"

"Mother…" Aikka whispered, as he began to disappear into the stone 'doors' at the bottom of the vessel, as she began to disappear from her sights altogether.

"…And bring home the prize."

The floor seemed to lock into place into a solid stone floor just below their feet, and the gold light disappeared altogether. Darkness took over as everything in the Nourasians' vision.

"I promise…" Aikka said weakly before the darkness overtook his mind, for reasons that were unapparent to him. The last thing he was aware of was his meeting with the stone floor.

With the three unconscious Nourasians aboard, the Avatar's module hurtled off towards a little planet known as Alwas.

-Catgirl-of-Bavaria-: w00t, first chapter done! I can't wait to get to Alwas and improvise the races none of us actually saw! Ideas for those are always welcome, of course, so as to help me avoid writer's block as much as possible. .:hates writer's block:. I'd love to hear input! And Of course I'd recognize you as the owner of the idea if I were to actually use it in the story. And I'd give you Pocky! Sweet, delicious Pocky… .:drools:.

Oh, yes, and a little visual assistance on how Takai and Aikka clasped hands as a sign of friendship(yes, they are friends, but loosely…little more explanation of that in Aftermath.) I figured that shaking hands was just too…boring, and not to mention 'human' for the Nourasians, so I wanted to give them something different. The thought of the fist thing that he and Eva do later on came to mind, but nuu. That's their thing, and their thing alone, that's my Mokka fangirl way of thinking.

So, I decided upon something I actually saw off of Disney's Brother Bear. If any of you have seen it, I mean their gesture to be like the thing the three brothers do. Palm-to-palm, clasping their fingers. Hope that clears it up!

Dunno how long it'll be til the next update, but I am greatly looking forward to writing it! I'm also at work on Aftermath, as well, rest assured.