NOTE: Tyrannis is PinkPanther9.7's character. Not mine. Terra Jupitaria also belongs to him. Rondana and Terra Pathologica belong to Miss Dedodakes.
The meadow was dotted with cherry trees in blossom, the pink flakes fluttering around the two girls lazily until they reached the floor.
"Where are we?" Piper asked, curiously.
Lypix thought for a minute, "I'm not sure. There's no where in the Atmos that is quite like this." She glanced down at the peaceful land below.
"Terra Jupitaria." A low rumble came from behind, causing the girls to jump.
"Tyrannis!" Lypix exclaimed, "How's it going?!"
His expression remained solemn, "I'm a 75 year old that still keeps crashing into trees."
Lypix looked at Piper, "We're ten years in the future!" She turned back to Tyrannis, "What happened here?!"
It was now something occurred to Lypix, his expression was too still as if he was trying to hold back something. Almost like-
"-We won. Cyclonia lost. The Atmos has been peaceful for a long time."
Piper gasped with a pleasant surprise, her face showed happiness and Lypix smiled. But Lypix was still suspicious, not once had Tyrannis yet smiled.
"Wha-"
Several small heads popped up out of the tall lush grass they were standing amongst, their heads furry and carried the same arrow that Tyrannis' did.
"Daaad" one asked, his emphasis on the a so typical for a young child.
"Yes son." Tyrannis turned towards the talkative one.
"Who are they?" Another asked.
Now Tyrannis smiled. "They're friends. Good friends."
00
Tyrannis led the bewildered Lypix and Piper back to his village whilst the tall children followed from afar, their telltale heads popping up now and again to check they hadn't lost their father.
"How did we win?" Piper asked finally, the burning question managing to flame into the air.
Tyrannis grinned, "We almost didn't," Lypix imagined him stood on a battle field looking bewildered, she managed to suppress a giggle, missing his sideways glance. "If they'd have found the Helix crystal, then I don't know what would have happened, but Aerrow managed to lead us. He brought us all together in the end."
Piper opened her mouth slightly and Lypix knew what was coming.
"Th-th-the Helix crystal?" She said it with a faint voice full of surprise, glancing quickly at Lypix.
Tryannis' face darkened, "I would take you to see it but we don't have it either. You see, it was destroyed, and when we realised, there was nothing we could do. Aerrow led us to defeat Cyclonia. And we won."
Lypix felt a gulp in her throat, she couldn't quite place why. Maybe it was the thought of such a powerful crystal being destroyed, or it was the thought of Aerrow in such a big battle. "Did anyone get hurt?"
Tyrannis' face briefly held a picture of sorrow, but soon vanished. He responded to Lypix's quiet voice with equal volume, "I can't tell you that."
They'd stopped just outside the village, the sound of busy workings and people laughing was easy to hear. Lypix stared hard at the ground, but looked up. She would have asked the question that hurt more than any memory she held, she wanted desperately to know if Aerrow was okay, but she couldn't ask. Not with Piper there, it would ruin everything.
The image of him sat upright against a barren rock, his side heavy with vital blood, alone. It wouldn't leave her mind. But why was he alone? Why couldn't she see herself there?
Tyrannis forced a gentle smile, "Come into the village, there's someone I'd like you to meet."
00
"Lypix, Piper, I'd like you to meet Kim." Another Jupitarian turned around but she was a lot friendlier looking than the others. It wasn't that they were particularly scary, but she seemed to radiate an aura of trust, the smile seemed to help as well.
"Lypix! Piper! I've heard so much about the two of you!"
"You have?" Piper asked confused, she wasn't aware she knew Tyrannis that well.
"Of course I have, the legendary girlfriend of Aerrow right?!"
Lypix's heart cringed, why had it not gone further than girlfriend? Had he died? Or had Lypix had something to do with that?
Piper smile beamed, she hadn't seemed to notice the underlying message in that, and Lypix was glad that she hadn't.
"So how is all this possible?" Lypix asked glancing around at the small clean building made of natural materials, "Did Cyclonia not practically destroy this Terra?"
Tyrannis grinned, "Yes, but that wasn't going to stop us." He walked over to the bookcase and pulled a map out. "You see, shortly after Cyclonia fell, people from crushed races started to come out of the woodwork, they realised they didn't have to live in fear anymore. One of these was Kim." They smiled at each other and he gently touched her hand on his shoulder. "I had gone to Terra Pathologica to find Rondana and was pointed in the direction of Varicella, up in the mountains and on the way I fell sick. I knew I couldn't make it in time so I stopped. I thought I was going to die. And then came along my little angel" this warranted another smile, "She healed me and after that we started to fall for each other. Eventually we decided to come back to repopulate this Terra. A couple of others came back as well. I think in a couple of generations everything will be back to normal."
Piper studied the map, "A couple of places have disappeared." She answered thoughtfully.
Tyrannis looked down, "Some places were lost in the war. But a lot of places that were previously wiped out are being repopulated. Like here and well," He grinned the brightest smile at Lypix, "Terra Krysita."