A/N: Don't worry, I'll finish the other one. But I loved the short story so much that I decided to write a sequel. It's already finished, so no waiting for chapters. Here we go!
What Lay Beyond
The light enfolded them, a pulsating, throbbing glow. Victoria got the sense of traveling at a great speed, whipping through space and time. She held onto Xarral with all her might, gripping onto that vividly-colored cloth. She was aware of one of Xarral's hands, so large it encased her tiny five-year-old body, curving gently around her back.
The intensity of the burning illumination grew; pressuring her eyes and ears, and became so strong that she cried out. As if on cue they were spit out on the other side, and the power of the light disappeared. Victoria's ears were left ringing, and her eyeballs ached. She squeezed them shut and buried her face into Xarral's shoulder, eyes watering, assaulted by an assortment of strange sounds and voices. Unknown birds chirped, feet trotted about cobblestone, and there was a low hum that she couldn't place. Frightened and intimidated, she sought to make herself as small as possible.
"There she is," murmured a voice.
Yes.
"What a cute little thing!"
"What's her name again?"
Victoria.
Who will take care of her? Asked a different mind-voice.
"We will. I have two sons already; we'll take her in."
Victoria turned to the source of the voices. There was an assortment of strange people—both of her kind and the kind of her friend Xarral. A young couple had come forward. Reluctantly, Xarral began to give her over.
Victoria cried out, grabbing onto his clothes again. No! She didn't want to go with the strangers!
Immediately Xarral moved back, cradling her again in his arms. No, he said, voicing her own objection. I will keep her.
The couple was startled, as was the rest of the crowd. The old Protoss High Templar warrior usually kept to himself, seldom venturing out into the town. It had been a strange miracle that he had volunteered to contact a child—and now he wanted to keep her?
I have made the first step of communicating with her. I will finish it. I will raise her.
Slowly, the couple moved back.
Be reasonable, Xarral, said another, younger Protoss. You do not know much about Protoss children, and nothing about a Terran child.
Nevertheless, she shall stay with me. Xarral turned his back on the others and walked away, in the direction of his little house on the edge of the town, leaving the crowd hanging. A buzz of whispers had started, but Xarral did not listen and did not care.
Come, little one, he murmured to the tiny, trembling bundle in his arms. Be still. You are safe.
Victoria relaxed marginally, and offered a shaky little smile. "Where are we going?" she asked, turning to get more comfortable.
To my home. You will stay there with me.
"I'm not going back?"
No.
Victoria sank into incredulous silence for the rest of the way. When they got home, and Xarral gently put her in his bed, she said, "Never?"
Never, child. Not if you do not wish to.
A smile lit her face, as radiant as the one that she had given him when he had first picked her up. "Are you my new daddy?" she asked.
Xarral paused, thinking. Yes, he said slowly. I am your father. Now sleep.
"Fa-ther," she whispered, eyes closing as if on their own volition. "Father."