Author's Note:Many deaths and heavy drama involved in this chapter. I suggest that you skip this chapter if you have a weak heart. ;D
*Thanks to some friends who gave me comments, encouragements and suggestions for this chapter! You're the BEST! *
Chapter 11: Fight for Freedom!
Prince Khytrik slowly raised his body with full pressure to get off Candy although he was seriously damaged. The warrior was openly dismayed, realizing Emperor Nolter was still alive. He revolved around and caught the sight of the Emperor standing on his feet, but his body was also in bad shape.
"A-Albert... I mean, Prince Khytrik! You're severely injured, Prince Khytrik!" Candy piped out at the prince. Soon afterward, she covered her mouth in fright when her eyes fixated on the prince's body that was struck by Emperor Nolter's powerful staff. The wound on the right side of his bowels was twice the size of a tennis ball and the blood spread out rapidly drenching her outfit and onto the ground. "Prince Khytrik?"
The former leader of Dark Zaieddon made out from Candy's reaction on how concerned she was over his current state. He gently put his hand on the blonde woman's shoulder to reassure her that everything would be in good hands. He opened his mouth in a weak tone of voice, "T-This is nothing, Candy. Are you alright?"
"W-What do you mean, 'nothing'? Your wound is far more than nothing!" Candy said loudly with a tear that slid down to her cheek when she recalled the same experience the night Terry was murdered, and then she reduced her tone level. "I... I'm okay, but I'm more worried about you..."
It was like a small blank wall that surrounded the two young lovers while gazing at each other's eyes reverently.
The silence was premature when the prince and Candy were rudely interrupted by a low, loathsome laughter of Emperor Nolter. Together, they set their faces towards the cruel Emperor, whose hand clinging to his wounded chest.
"He-he, you may have won the battle, but our war is far from over!" He declared determinedly to the prince. He rigorously wended his way back to his ship to leave Earth, and then he flew his face around to interject, "Khytrik, you'll gravely regret for the decision you made! In one aim of deadly beam from my ship, this Earth will vanish!"
That intimidating warning budged Candy to wrap her hands around Prince Khytrik's arm while the prince was filled with resentment. Candy was perplexed as the prince tenderly pulled his arm away from her grasp. 'Prince Khytrik...'
'You really are evil! Do you think I'd just let you destroy this planet?!' Prince Khytrik, who was blocking his wound from spilling more blood, was fully aware of his former master's movements that he didn't have any second to spare as the spaceship shot up into the air. He forced himself to stand even if he was no longer in good condition to fight, and was about to take off to chase the wicked tyrant.
The injured warrior looked upon the interloper who prevented him from dashing off by enveloping her arms around his waist. He asked in frustration, "What are you doing, Candy?! Do not interrupt me!"
"But, you're seriously hurt and you don't have enough strength to fight him anymore!" retorted the small, blonde human.
"Have you not heard what he said? You will lose your planet permanently if I don't stop him!" stated Prince Khytrik, trying his best not to sound querulous.
Candy persisted stubbornly with pleading tears crawling down to her face and tightened her grip. "And you will die if you continue with this! I don't think I can take it if I lost you forever, Khytrik...! Let me die with you..."
Prince Khytrik's heart melted by Candy's last line, but chose not to get overcome by human emotions. "But, what about your uncle, and your friends? Candy, you must understand that I am a warrior like my late father. Warriors must face dangerous mission even if it costs their lives," Prince Khytrik emphasized, looking thoughtfully at his dear, earthly Rywa [A] with a small sigh. Candy unquestionably let him go. The prince stepped forward, getting an eyeful at the sky where the ship halted and then continued, "The only way to end my people's hardship is to bring Nolter down. Not only he killed my father, but my mother as well, and I want to avenge their deaths."
"Khytrik..."
"Don't worry about me. My body can still make it," Khytrik said, putting Candy's mind to rest as he rotated. "No matter how far that monster runs from me, I'll never stop hunting him!"
To provide her support for her beloved prince, Candy dried her tears off her face and strained to strengthen herself. "Prince Khytrik... before you go, will you do something for me?"
"Anything. What is it?"
"Kiss me."
Prince Khytrik's brightened face somehow softened at the sudden, unexpected demand of Candy, yet he willingly gave in. With all his heart, he leaned his lips closer to gently touch hers and the blonde lady warmly returned his soft kiss. The last mentioned was somewhat disappointed when the prince broke off the wonderful moment all too soon.
"Candy...?" the Vulpezian prince began faintly with his back facing the human and eyes closed. Candy just watched closely at the troubled, but attractive prince. "I won't be able to protect you from harm anymore. You need to run and save yourself as fast as you can."
"W-What do you mean?" questioned Candy with a befuddled look on her face.
Prince Khytrik unlocked his eyes to stare at the blood on his hand that dripped from his wound. "I'm more powerful and unmanageable beyond your dream when I'm in this form. I'll be impelled to release my true power to destroy Nolter and his followers completely. And when that happens..."
The Prince of the Vulpezians' momentary reticence gave Candy a funny feeling of what Khytrik was trying to insinuate and she refused to hear the continuation of his sentence.
"...the Earth will be in great danger. Many people will get affected or killed by indescribable chaos," Khytrik revealed sternly as he directed his glaring eyes at Candy.
Candy could hardly bear the horror the prince just made known and she sank her mouth into her hand in an instant. After many months of living with Albert, this is the first time I've seen him this serious!
Khytrik's feet ushered him to Candy and held her on the shoulders. His voice let out an alarming tone as he offered a little advice. "Candy, don't use your car when you flee. I mostly doubt it will keep you safe from giant rocks, falling into cracked grounds, or even might get sucked in by strong winds like a whirlwind. Do you understand?"
Candy didn't honestly think that the man who posed as Cyborg was that strong! She recalled there was a severe earthquake that perished many people and only to discover that Albert and the young boy were positively responsible. Spooky or not, Candy had to trash her fear aside to save her own skin.
She unfolded an energizing smile and thumbs-up at the prince. "Okay. Go after him, Khytrik. Defend our worlds. I won't even look back at you. I trust you." And then, she ran hurriedly.
Prince Khytrik watched Candy setting out to a closest shelter until she vanished from his eyes. He sadly whispered under his breath, "Take good care of yourself, my princess." And only then, he turned to the sky and mildly flew away.
Candy pulled her legs to stop abruptly and surprisingly saw her courageous Kywa [B] took flight into the air. It struck her as she remembered her best friend's declaration. "Jamee wasn't kidding... Albert is actually flying... but he's in pain... his condition is not really good right now." Although it broke her heart at the pitiful sight of him, she swayed her head away forcibly to ignore the scene and went on running.
In a short time, Prince Khytrik had stopped drifting into the sky, letting his body float two hundred and fifty feet above the ground. He had clearly discerned that the enemy was waiting on the surface of the planet, and he would never give him a chance to attack. At this very minute, a terrifying moment slid into his mind regarding on how he was snatched away from his slain mother, the Empress, by no less than the Emperor, when he was a child. A small drop of blood escaped from his right hand from clenching it so tightly while visualizing how his beloved mother wept so hard to prevent her son from the Emperor's evil plan, and was slew with no remorse.
Mother... he began inwardly, peering at the sky. If I were stronger at that time, I would have protected you from that monster. What the Emperor had described about his father, the elite warrior, had made the prince a little distracted. There are many things I would like to know about my real father, but for now... I must defeat Nolter first!
Meanwhile in the outer space, Nolter quickly punched coordinates to operate the Magnetic Beam Cannon from the port of spaceship and aimed it directly on Planet Earth. The Emperor let out a sinister chortle. "Now's the time for you to die, Khytrik!"
A blurred vision of Candy with her hands holding onto her chest gradually appeared, like a ghost, in Prince Khytrik's mind. If he was unsuccessful with his task, he could foresee how the Emperor's men would torture Candy until she died. The severity of his rage, a unique energy promptly exposed throughout his body. He bellowed to the top of his lungs, "The Earth is now my home, and I will do everything to protect all living creatures from your hands!"
In having said that, the outraging color of prince Khytrik's eyes immediately changed. Both his hands flashed before him to perform his greatest Ultra NagNa Ball that was powerful enough to destroy the planet. Because of the warrior prince's tremendous power, it provoked the whole world to shake until it grew worse. Candy fell onto the ground harshly as she lost her balance.
No! This is it, and I'm not even that far from him yet!
People all over the world were absolutely unaware of the events after the earthquake had initiated, but the smell of danger had awakened all kinds of animals. Fierce or gentle, large or small, they started to make wild sounds in their cages while the others were furiously retiring from the mountains. Even the house pets such as dogs, cats, birds, and so on, gave their masters a sign of warning. Some couldn't grasp the idea on what the animals were signifying, but some understood by their pets' restlessness.
Only a few certain people who knew Cyborg Albert could identify where the source of power came from...
"My God... is that Albert? How could his strength have reach this far?" the man stammered in fear as he was stroking the head of his whimpering, German Shepherd dog. He was one of the friends whom Cyborg Albert rescued in Singapore and was informed of his unearthly abilities.
Meanwhile, in a police station where Candy's uncle, Det. Nick White was stationed. He and his colleagues were bombarded with numbers of non-stop calls by every person in the city. He took a glimpse at the television which shows the female broadcaster of CNN, exposing the picture of a UFO floating under the clouds, not only in United States, but in every part of the world. The worried detective tried to contact Candy through her cellphone a few times, but led his call to voice mail. Without any minute to spare, he called out to his partner, Tanya, to search for his niece. Additionally, they were filled in of Candy's mystery friend in secret.
Candy's closest friends, Sean, Jamee and Trixie, also felt this horrible signal. They were indubitably alerted and calmed as electricity and telecommunications went dead all of a sudden, and stayed beside their spouses and terrified little children.
Furthermore, Candy's little pet, Teeny sensed that her mistress was in peril. The tiny little kitten had been scratching Candy's door with her claws and making mournful, meowing sounds since she first sensed the earthquake earlier.
With immense fear and panic of all men, women and children after they saw an unwelcomed spaceship, they took off in all directions like a lost sheep to hide themselves, thinking they would be taken as experiments, food, or slaves. Since the electric power was swiftly brought to an end, the traffic lights had stopped working that caused the cars to collide with one another and filed up hit and run victims.
Prince Khytrik let an incensed growl slipped in his breath as he scanned the whereabouts of the other spaceships through his mind. In a moment, he blinked his blazing eyes and each spaceship in every corner of the world set off into explosion along with Nolter's legion. The result of the prince's clever attack on the ships seethed the Emperor even more.
The completion of Prince Khytrik's Ultra NagNa Ball was almost near. It absorbed the strength swiftly from the prince's body. The intensity of NagNa Ball's breathtaking power led the earth to shake worse than ever and split the land into two. Big and small rocks were being carried by the strong force of energy and rolled over in different directions.
Candy quickly hopped on the other side of the pavement when her path started to crack rapidly as if a monster were to emerge from the ground. Her breath almost escaped her in panic when a large boulder was catching up with her. She dived with all her guts to avoid it and wheeled over to safety. The blonde-haired lady's eyes grew large up to the extreme as she saw the rock from the air which was fifty times larger than the first one and was about to pound her body.
She shrieked as loud as the whole world could hear. Oh, God! I'm dead! I'm dead!
Candy simply had no impression how many seconds had had her eyes closed until she got a wind of a cold, childish voice coming from a young intruder. "Are you okay, lady?"
Candy was dumbstruck when she heard the unfamiliar voice from the background. She slowly broadened her eyes and met the innocent face of a young, green-haired boy, looking at her. She found herself in the boy's muscled arms and her nervous hands that were already wrapped around her rescuer's neck. Soon, she came to realize that once again destiny failed to take her life as they were flying in the sky towards Prince Khytrik's direction. And she owed it all to the boy who delivered her on time from a brink of death. This boy... I remember him from the picture in Albert's room! He looks tough... and... and... he has two, small horns on his forehead like a goat!
"I... I'm okay. T-Thank you for saving my life," Candy said in a normal tone, trying to lull her nerves down. "W-What is your name?"
"I'm Satyo." The boy replied politely to Candy, settling his eyes in his tracks, and then his face gave out an abrupt, opposite expression. "CLOSE YOUR EYES!"
Candy followed the path where Satyo was looking and she got a hint in an instant as they were being showered by jeopardous, flying objects. In secret, she was lucidly amazed at the rapidness of the little warrior dodging the rocks, trees, poles and many more, but she had to block her view from hurting because of the boy's excessive speed of flight.
After a while, Satyo descended on the ground quietly and softly with Candy when he spotted a safe place for them to watch his teacher. Next, the barely eight-year old, little prince raised his index and middle fingers towards the sky and formed a circle. Candy was more than taken aback by the energy's potency as it magically covered their presence with transparent, upside down bowl-like force.
Candy popped a plain question as she softly rubbed her surroundings with her hands. "What is this? I feel like I'm inside a fish bowl!"
"It's called an energy barrier, lady," corrected the boy, who was standing next to her, snickering in silence at the stranger's funny description. "We'll be safe here. It can defend us from oncoming attacks, and we can watch my Ab...m-my teacher from here."
Aw, this kid is incredibly cuter in person than in Albert's picture! I feel like I want to pinch his cheeks! Candy simpered sweetly at Satyo's noble response and said in a friendly manner. "You can call me Candy. Um... h-how did you find me and snatched me from the rock?"
"I detected my teacher's power energy," he answered to Candy. Then, he reversed into opposite direction as he added, "I jumped into the place where the rock was about to pound on you by using InstantBound. Oh look, there he is!" burst out the boy, pointing his finger at the glowing prince in the air.
Candy's mouth dropped in stupefaction to see the strange appearance of Prince Khytrik. She briefly stumbled as she inquired her little companion. "W-What kind of energy is that, that wrapped all over his body, and that bright thing floating in between his hands?"
"This is the first time I've seen him like this. When he's filled with mixed emotions, it appears that he unleashes his true strength from his body," said Satyo, tightening his brows as he explained. "The apparent energy in front of him is called NagNa Ball, and it's his method to finish off his opponents."
"NagNa Ball?" Candy repeated, swirling her head at the boy.
The green-haired prince nodded with a straight face. "He has learned many techniques from different planets we have gone to, but this one is overwhelming and effective. He can also destroy the whole planet." Abitoji... where did you get your stupendous strength? Satyo asked in his thoughts. His eyes went wide instantly and slowly stared at the human lady from the corner of his eye. Could she be the reason at your sudden change...?
"Teacher, you're the chosen one after all!" the boy rapped excitedly as he had his clenched hands in mid-air.
She turned to Satyo, confused. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"The Vulpezians, same as my teacher, believed that someday a legendary warrior would be born to set people free from evil influences!" Satyo made things clear with Candy. He paused for a short period of time and carried on, "And I have great confidence that this warrior is none other than Prince Khytrik!"
"Really?" The emerald eyes of Candy sparkled at the young prince's acknowledgement. She came nearer to the barrier, rested her hands on it, and gave a thoughtful stare at rebel Prince Khytrik in the sky. "My prince... a legendary warrior..."
"You're finished, Khytrik!" said Emperor Nolter in fiendish cackle, pressing one of the buttons on the main control board. The Magnetic Beam Cannon slowly lit up and released its beam towards the Prince of the Vulpezians.
The development of positive energy of Prince Khytrik's NagNa Ball has finally completed. Faster than a sky rocket, the prince set his deadly technique loose to prevent the beam from hitting the Earth.
When the images of the prince's parents moved along in his mind like a slideshow, he cried out uproariously as he forced his strength to overpower the Emperor's beam, "This is for my mother, my father, and YOU WILL DIE IN HELL WITH ME!"
"Here they are... the real battle has begun...!" Satyo announced flatly as he and Candy were keeping tabs on the adult prince strongly forced his power up to the sky.
'Khytrik... you can do it... I believe in you...' Candy said in her thoughts, clasping her hands in front of her upper body.
The whole atmosphere was intensely lightened up on spur of moment when the two different rays of light collided in mid-sky. Candy had to move her head in another direction since she couldn't deal with the extreme brightness that was clearly harmful to the human eyes.
And again, on account of the NagNa Ball's strong energy it violently caused the whole planet to vibrate.
Without any warning, the beautiful and original color of the heaven had changed into a dreadful color like human blood. Many people from around the world died instantly, or went missing when the oceans roaringly brimmed over the Earth. Some of the buildings, houses and freeways started to fall apart, not to mention transportation such as cars, buses, trucks or subway transit steered them to tragic accidents.
The rocks trembled in different parts of the forest and the mountains. Candy screeched as she caught sight of her Honda car being smashed by a big boulder. She buried her face into the ground with her hands over her head, sobbing. Remind me not to watch 2012 movie again!
She bolted a bit as she felt Satyo's soft hands that seemed to try to strengthen her. "Don't be afraid. We're safe inside my barrier. Nothing can harm you."
While the vigorous, warrior prince was forcing the Emperor's beam back to his mortal enemy in all seriousness, he could make out a short, positive whisper through himself as a friendly smile and laughter of those around him poured unto his mind sequentially. 'The smile of every creature in my home Planet Vulpez... whom you destroyed... I will not allow you to steal the joy of the Earth! DIE!'
Emperor Nolter blared turbulently when a ball of deadly energy drawing closer to his ship in great speed. "No! This can't be! This is not my end! I should reign over the Earth! Curse you, Khytrik!"
The massive fireball went through the spaceship's port and exploded horribly in a split second along with Emperor Nolter in it. The blast in the sky was almost brighter than the sun and could be seen prominently from the World of Men. The sky returned to its original color.
The peace of the Earth was saved...
Little by little, the breathless prince returned back to his normal human form on purpose now that everything was resolved. Suddenly, he grabbed his head by both hands as if he were in severe pain. "Aaahh!" And then he fell back to the Earth faster than a parachutist. Pretty near lifeless.
As soon as they saw Albert suffer with difficulty, Satyo shut down his energy barrier in less than a second.
"What's happening to Albert?" Candy asked the boy with uneasiness.
"He's having another headache attack!" answered the little prince.
Candy noted a strange throb of her heart and without wasting any time, she raced herself towards Albert with tears sprinkled freely in the air. "Albert! Albert, hang on!" She was two-minute away from Albert's landing site.
While Albert was waiting for his body to get crushed on the ground, he made an attempt to open one of his eyes when he became hardly aware of certain someone's booming voice calling out to his name. Despite his excruciating state, he extended his shaking hand upon the tiny running figure, who was heading straight to his landing spot. "C-Candy..."
"I'll get him!" suggested Satyo, dashing past Candy and took off into the sky. The little boy stretched out his little arms and caught his teacher on time before he hit the soil. He had his teacher's arm rested around him and guided him to a safe land.
"S-Satyo...? W-What are you doing here, Satyo?" demanded Albert, giving him an aggravated look. He was less pleased to see his student.
Satyo detected his teacher's straight face and lowered his head sadly. "I... I followed you, Abitoji. [C] I... was worried about you."
The little warrior laid Albert down moderately near Candy's presence. She hastily sat down next to her beloved.
"A-Albert... your injury is...," spooked Candy at the sight of the prince's fresh wound which was deteriorated increasingly during the course of strengthening his power of NagNa Ball.
"T-This is nothing. I always get injured when I fight," the adult prince let out a weak choke as he took Candy by the hand. "Don't pay attention to it."
Candy parked her voice box for few seconds until she could speak up in a sincere tone. "Albert...why didn't you tell me of your true self? Perhaps I'd have understood you fully."
"Candy... I hid my identity from you, so you wouldn't be intimidated of my outward appearance," Albert clarified with a tender look in his eyes. "I couldn't tell you everything about the real me unless it was the right time."
Candy squeezed Albert's hand gently, noting blood coming out from her prince's lips. She persisted, "But, you're MY Kywa... I am ready to listen to what you have to say any time."
"Kywa? I am deeply ashamed of myself," Albert said doubtfully. He avoided Candy's eyes, and then added with resentment. "You deserve someone better than me who can make you happy."
She was perplexed that she had to ask Albert. "What do you mean? Are you really okay, Albert?"
The stubborn warrior pushed his face to look at Candy straight in her eyes. "Candy, I can't possibly let myself fall in love with you entirely for I am a slaughterous alien with so much blood scattered by my hands!"
Satyo could tell that Candy was hurting inside, yet seemed to be courageous despite his teacher's determination of releasing her. She let go of Albert's hand without hindrance. "Why are you pushing me away? I don't care what you've done in the past!"
"Because I'm a MURDERER!" the prince snapped hoarsely, and then lowered his voice swiftly when he realized he was almost harsh to Candy. "This isn't me... that ruthless Emperor had made me into what I am... a heartless monster. I will always be branded as a murderer..."
"Albe- -"
Albert cut her off, exchanging glances with Candy. "...And you said you didn't want anything to do with those kinds of men."
Candy was quiet. She raised one brow naively asking Albert to remind her of those days. "W-When did I say that?"
"In the park... when you were telling me about those men who killed your male friend, Terry," the former Cyborg narrated serenely, and then he swirled his face away, blinking his eyes twice. He continued, "I lessened my expectations without reserve since you were unwilling to let go of those men from your anger."
"Albert... I already pardoned those men long ago. They knew what they did to Terry and I was wrong... but you? You were under influence against your will by that cruel Emperor," said Candy without a bitter sound in her language.
Albert came around unhurriedly to meet Candy's eyes. He sighed for a second and voiced out a simple question. "Do you still love me regardless of the evil things I've done, Candy?"
The blonde human showed her sweet and caring smile as she invitingly nodded. "Albert... no matter who or what you are, or what you did, or which galaxy you're from... doesn't affect my love for you. You're still the same man I love..."
"Oh, Candy..." Suddenly, darkness turned into light as Albert's heart sang with joy. Just knowing that she would be by his side made the days ahead look so much brighter. The blonde-haired prince cupped Candy's face, caressing her skin with his thumb while looking yearningly at her. He discerned Candy's warm touch as she directed her precious Kywa's hand to her lips.
Due to the serious condition that Albert was in, Candy chose to tell a convivial tale that interested the latter. "You know what...? When you recover, I'm going to cook something spectacular just for you, Satyo, Teeny and myself! We can eat as much as we like!"
"That sounds nice, Candy," the injured prince commented heartily with a smile. And then, he added, "Listen, there is something you should know."
Candy would love to hear more from Albert, though she shook her head vehemently. "Albert, please, I beg you... don't talk anymore. We'll talk when you're better... okay?"
"This is important," insisted Albert. "Candy, the night Terry died..."
"Yes?"
"I must confess... I knew about Terry's death," Albert looked blankly at the sky and went ahead with the story as he revived the past when he and Satyo came to the place where Terry and Candy had been attacked. He could never forget the woeful anguish of Candy. "As a Vulpezian, I've very sharp hearing no matter how far everyone is. Specifically, I'm tuned in only to you for some odd reason. I heard your scream when some men were assaulting you and Terry, but Satyo and I were engaged with our major training session, so I ignored your cry for help. I couldn't leave my responsibility as a warrior just to help humans from any danger. Soon, I changed my mind and we went on our way to help you, though Terry was already shot when we arrived," he breathed out distressingly and then he turned to Candy with a regretful look on his face. "I'm very sorry that I wasn't there to save you and your friend, Candy."
Candy crushed the long laconism between them and brought out a fine answer between sobs. "Well... there is nothing I can blame you, Albert. It's done. I've accepted his fate and left my past for good since you came into my life. Please... stop talking about it. You're consuming your own strength."
Albert was seemingly moved at Candy's fathomless concern she had exposed. He consoled her wholeheartedly, "P-please, no more tears, Candy. You will always be...," he stopped briefly. He lightly parked his Rywa's hand on where his heart was and then he extended his words, "...safe in here."
"T-Thank you for saving our planet, my prince..." said Candy in sniffles, shoving her tears away.
"I'll do everything to protect your planet..." promised Albert, and then he faced his little pupil. He placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and instructed him weakly. "T-Thank you for your company, Satyo. You're a good fighter. Train harder. It's... it's your turn to defend this planet. I... I want you to know that I'm proud of you..."
Teacher... the little warrior prince nodded in reply as he secured his hands around his teacher's muscled arm.
The Dark Zaieddon fighter had more things to say to Candy, but his eyes widened without warning as if he were experiencing another affliction. Candy and Satyo froze in horror and had no faintest idea how to comfort Albert's pain. He blocked his head roughly and coughed with his blood spilled out uncontrollably from his mouth until he haltingly lost his consciousness.
The two important people in Albert's life exclaimed together.
"Albert! No!"
"Teacher!"
Judging from the prince's peaceful, lifeless face, his suffering had entered the end of the line. Pretty soon, he wouldn't be among the living. Candy had tried to call his name many, many times. All the same, he outlived as hard as a stone.
Out of anxiety and desperation, Candy shook up Albert by the shoulders to revive him. Satyo stiffened on his position, trying to hold back his tears. "God, no! Albert, wake up! Hang on! Please, don't give up! Can you hear me?"
Faster than a wind that blew by, Candy pressed her right side of her ear on Albert's chest to listen to the sound of his heartbeat. She gasped dismally. "No! It can't be! His heart is..." She performed a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; nonetheless it turned out ineffective.
Candy wasn't about to give up hope, but she knew it was obviously impossible. Carrying most of her anger, sadness and disappointments she had gone through with this Cyborg inside or outside her home, she pounded his chest with her strong fists as hard as she could over and over. "No! No! No, this can't be! God, don't take him away from me! Wake up, Albert! Fight it! Don't you die on me! You lied to me! You promised me! You promised that you wouldn't leave me! Albert! ALBERT!"
Before long, the troubled, blonde woman covered her arms around Albert's neck with her head above his while her hot tears ran from her green eyes and dripped upon the prince's unresponsive face. Her delightful memories with Albert whether good or bad times, streamed gradually into her heavy-hearted thought. "Albert... please, don't leave me, my prince..."
I can't count the ways
Nor remember the exact day
When my heart tumbled into love
I just gave thanks to God above!
I love you more than ever
Your origin doesn't matter
My emotions became steadier
And my feelings grew stronger!
I don't know what you saw
With my many riddled flaws
I'm just glad that you did see
That something's special in me.
And so my beloved prince
Open your eyes and see me please
The woman who looks after you with care
And praying that our lives forever we'll share-
Satyo long reflected Candy and his teacher's actions, clasping his fists. There was no denying the fact that these two had stronger bond even if the Vulpezians and the other aliens were against such humiliation. He admitted that he had detested Candy because he used to be Albert's center of attention when they were together at The Keepers' Headquarters, but things had changed since she came into their lives. The little prince was having an impervious time from resisting his downcastness in as much as the adult prince was not in favor of this kind of this behavior. Albert would always instruct the boy not to show any kind of emotions while on training with him because it established his weakness. If it hadn't been for his new pet cockatoo Orion's deafening screams, [D] he would have never regained his consciousness and catch his teacher alive. Now, that his teacher was gone, he was no longer capable to suppress his true feelings that had been eating him wholly. He was alone in the world. He learned from one of the rebels in the Headquarters that his real parents had been slaughtered by the Emperor, just like what they did with his teacher's parents. When he first opened his eyes as a baby, the only one who stayed by his side was no one else but his teacher alone. He could feel tears brimming and sloshing in him like water in glass that was unsteady and too full.
Satyo exploded pensively at once and dropped his little body on Albert's chest. "No! Abitoji! W-Why? Why did you go without me? We'd have beaten him together! Please, stay alive, Abitoji! I'll train harder, I promise! Please, wake up... let's go home... please, Abitoji!" Satyo wailed in sorrow like a little boy that was lost in the woods, grasping his teacher's shirt firmly. He still couldn't understand his teacher's reason for not letting him involved in the battle.
Candy deeply felt sorry for Satyo. The boy's piercing cries were on the verge of crushing her weak heart and couldn't control herself from shedding bitter tears. He must be Albert's little brother, she pondered. Most importantly, she was totally disoriented when she heard Satyo calling her Kywa in another name. She had no clue how the boy would react if she questioned him what 'Abitoji' stood for, but she did anyway in her best cordial manner. "I... I thought his name was Khytrik? What does Abitoji mean?"
An unknown, stern voice that showed up from the background spoke, "In Prince Khytrik's native language, Abitoji means, 'Father'."
Candy was startled when she heard the peculiar voice and immediately spun around. She saw the strange visitors with different looks, sizes and shapes approaching them.
The Rebels...
CONTINUED...
o - o - o - o - o
[A] Rywa = Girlfriend
[B] Kywa = Boyfriend
[C] Abitoji is actually from Korean term "Abeoji" for Father or Daddy.
[D] Cockatoos are bound to make irritating noises when they are bored or stressed
*The poem 'A Promise' is written by Minda, thank you! A few more chapters and this story is done! Thanks for reading, everyone!
© EnakaT 2012