Stella turned to Brandon and he grabbed her hand tightly, squeezing once to assure her he was compliant.
"Let's go." He whispered to her, slowly moving forward. She smiled back at him, his empathy was soothing and she couldn't imagine a better partner to go into battle with. She slowly crept forward , walking towards the main ball room where the laugh resonated from.
Stella let go of Brandon's hand and crouched to the ground. "Shhh." She whispered to him. He looked at her quizzically but just nodded in acceptance.
Stella's wings enlightened the entire corridor, making their hiding place ineffective.
Stella listened again for Baltor's laugh. She concluded that he was in their planetary observation room-where the sun was. Stella stood up and without thinking, bolted into the gallery in vengeance.
There stood Baltor, in his velvet maroon jacket with his back turned. He peaked over his shoulder and his eyes flashed open.
"Well, well, well. Look who came out of hiding." He said, regaining his poise. Stella's first instinct was to run at him, rip him to shreds without any cognition. But she knew that would be stupid. And dangerous. She turned, Brandon was nowhere behind her. Her stomach formed into a pit and she swallowed hard. Abandoned...
Stella took a strong stance. "Why are you doing this?" She barked at him, demanding an answer. Baltor let out a loud laugh and put his hand on his chest.
"Why wouldn't I princess?" He started walking towards her. "All the power in the solar system. Ceasing all reign in this celestial dimension." He was inches from her face.
"Just look how beautiful you are." He smiled demonically and she flinched at the feel of his harsh words on her neck. He lifted his gloved hand and stroked her cheek bone. "You'd be a lovely queen my dear." His tone was full of euphoria and sultry.
Stella was frozen in terror.
"But I might need to test you out first," Baltor hissed as he moved to press his lips on her face, grabbed a hold of her hips.
With one swift movement, Stella struck Baltor with a punch, denting his porcelain face. He staggered backwards, caressing his orbital rim as it swelled.
"You little BITCH." He snapped at her, lunging towards her. Stella flew into the air to evade. She spun up 10 feet, throwing sun beams through the room. Stella looked down, the second sun was small and a hazy brown. She dove towards it, not sure why she was but prayed for a miracle. Within seconds, Baltor was by her, clutching her neck, his smooth glove gripping her.
Stella felt the blood drain from her head, his glove gripping her neck tightly.
His eyes were pools of ink, grin white as snow. He swung her to the floor next to the 4th moon. She breathed roughly, trying to regain all the oxygen she lost. Where was Brandon...why did he leave me?
Stella kicked her feet wildly and managed to escape his grip, glaring at him. Her shimmery top was torn horizontally, right under her breast.
Baltor smiled, "Presenting yourself to me are you?" he cackled loudly. Stella felt her self-awareness dwindle. She sprinted at him, throwing solar flares at him left and right, trying to suffice as a battle worthy competitor. Baltor was struck and collapsed onto the floor.
He struggled to stand up but laughed at her, "Stronger are we now? Impressive." He grinned demonically.
Stella blinked and a vine of ivy wrapped around Baltor. A sonic boom pushed him back onto the ground as a green grid imprisoned him. Stella shot her gaze behind her.
There stood Musa, Flora, Layla, and Tecna with Brandon by there side.
"Thought you might need a little help." Brandon called to her, rushing to Stella's side. Stella knew there was no time to celebrate. She ran back to them and linked hands. Bolting into the air, the girls knew what had to happen. The strongest convergence spell they have ever mustered up. Brandon watched from the ground as Stella and her friends floated to the top of the celestial center.
Brandon dove after Baltor who was concocting havoc of his own. He pulled out his phantom blade and slashed at Baltor, stalling for the girls. Baltor waved missiles of dragon fire at him; Brandon dodged him effortlessly but was faced with an impenetrable wave of blackness. Brandon hit the wall. Hard. Smacked unconscious, Stella watched as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. She heard cracks from the impact of hitting the wall.
Stella watched in horror but knew she had to complete the convergence if there was any hope of saving her home and its people.
Shooting blasts of energy, the girls concentrated it all at Baltor. Stella moved forward, closer to Baltor. She mustered up every ounce of energy she every earned, daggering it all at Baltor.
Stella walked up to Baltor's unconscious body. She watched as his emblem disappeared from his neck. Stella held Musa and Flora's hands as Layla and Tecna called in for back up.
After the blast, Baltor's powers depleted and he laid comatose. Stella sighed and walked over to Brandon. She knew he was gone. His death must've been quick and painless. She shook as she stared at his
She stroked his unresponsive face and cried. "Brandon...thank you." She wept through her tears. His eyes were clenched shut and mouth slightly open. Stella leaned forward and laid a soft kiss of his warm lips. She pulled away and stared. Why would he be warm?
Blood dripped from his uniform. His body was swelling from broken bones. Stella held his hands and cried.
Suddenly, without warning, his eyes fluttered open and he let out a hard wheeze.
"Brandon!" She shouted and wrapped her arms around him tightly. "You're okay!" She sobbed, rocking him back and forth.
"Not really." He coughed through a hard breath. Stella quickly lifted his heavy body into her arms, pulling him all the way to the ship that harbored Baltor. She laid him down and huffed. "You're heavy." She breathed hard, endorphins allowing her to carry him. Brandon quickly lost consciousness but Skye kept him on a pulse machine.
The hospital on Eracklyon was quiet. The walls were mint and every nurses' scrubs were light blue. Brandon slept most of the day, exhausted from recuperating.
Stella walked into the lobby; she never left. Not even to see her parents who were found in hiding. Solaria was safe and Baltor was in custody. She went to fetch Brandon some food when Flora walked up to her slowly.
"Hey sweetie, how is he?" She asked concernedly. Stella smiled.
"He's getting better. I'm lucky he's okay." She nodded.
Flora grinned, "He saved us, you know? Came plowing through a wall of monsters and got us out. He was so worried about you." Flora's words elated Stella.
Stella fought a cheeky smile. Seconds later, a loud clatter of heals came pounding down the hallway. Diaspro, in a neon pink dress, came marching towards Stella.
"What did you do to my boyfriend, you toad?" Diaspro barked at Stella.
Stella rolled her eyes, "Oh shut up, Diaspro." Stella chuckled and walked back to get Brandon food. When she came back with a tray of snacks, Diaspro was waiting in the room.
"Can you like, get up now?" She asked Brandon snarkly.
Brandon's eyes widened, "Stella." He called, seeing her peer around the corner.
"Hey," She waved, "brought you some food." She smiled to him and placed his tray next to him on is nightstand. His eyes were soft and tired. She sat on his bed next to him on the leftover portion of the bed. She didn't care that Diaspro was watching; she was so happy he was okay.
"Go away!" Diaspro yelped. Stella glared at her.
"Listen you fake excuse for a blonde." Stella stood up and walked after Diaspro.
Diaspro bolted out, trying to run in her too high of heels. Stella laughed; Brandon pulled her back and she laid next to him. His head adorned a white bandage and his chest was wrapped in the same bandaging. Brandon turned his head to Stella who was sharing his pillow.
"Hey." He smiled with all he could to her. She stared into his eyes and felt her lips tremble.
"Thank you Brandon." She whimpered to him. "From the bottom of my heart." She felt her tears proud down her cheek.
Brandon turned on his side. He took his index finger, cradled her chin and pressed his lips up to hers softly. Stella closed her eyes and breathed in. He was perfect, just like his kiss. His lacerated hands grabbed her hair, stroking her golden locks. Stella kissed him as passionately as she could. When their kiss ended, she gazed up at him.
"You know this isn't our first kiss?" He whispered to her quietly.
Stella's brow furrowed, "What do you mean?" She asked, confused.
Brandon smiled, "Kissing someone when you think they're unconscious...didn't know you were a kiss stealer, gorgeous."