"So just what is your connection with Tiamatt?" Oblivion asked, Sivu piloting the Ragnorok.
Hiro sighed. "You probably won't believe me but I was friends with Tiamatt before she lost her memory, back during Meteorfall."
"You're right, it is hard to believe. Because if that is true, then you should be dead." Kai agreed, leaning against the back wall of the ship.
"Terran brought me back to help you guys out. He even made it so I'm like you guys but I have a dragon form." Hiro explained. "I wonder why Terran gave me long hair though, it's such a hassle."
"Who is Terran?" Oblivion asked, watching Hiro carefully.
"He's…one of the leading spirits in the Lifestream." Hiro said carefully. "A real stiff usually. I was surprised when he asked if I wanted to return to the world of the living."
"Hm…" the wolf continued watching the blonde haired swordsman out of the corner of his eye as he turned to face Sivu. "Sivu, how close are we to Mercury?"
"We're almost in orbit and it seems we're being hailed to land."
"Go ahead and land, but be cautious. Fralex is allied with Apocolypse." Oblivion reminded. Sivu nodded and took the ship down which was immediately surrounded Mercurian guards. Fralex could be seen in a mostly human form, only his flaming wings exposed.
"What brings the Lords Silver, Linos, and Thund to my planet of Mercury?" Fralex asked cooly as the four occupants left the Ragnorok. "And who are you?"
"Who I am doesn't matter. You have information on where Tiamatt is and we want it!" Hiro said sternly, glaring at the phoenix.
"Brother, who are these people?" A small red haired boy stood nearby, a teddy bear tight in his arms, looking at the four armed men that stood before Fralex.
"Nightfire, this is grownup business. Why don't you go play with your toys?" the phoenix hissed, glaring over his shoulder at his younger sibling. Nightfire whimpered and nodded, running back inside. "Now, where were we?"
"Fralex, why have you allied with Apocolypse?" Oblivion growled, canine like fangs visible. "Answer me!"
"I had no choice. It was either join or be destroyed." Fralex grinned, yellow eyes flashing in the light of the nearby sun.
"You're lying between your teeth Fralex! Everyone know you desire power and you knew Apocolypse would help you." Kai growled.
"Doesn't everyone desire power? Isn't not just human nature but the nature of every species to desire strength?" the corrupt phoenix sneered.
"No, many do not desire power but must hold it for the good of others. Power is merely a choice!" stated Hiro. "I should know."
"Humph, whatever!" Fralex replied.
"That's exactly what I expected from you." Oblivion mumbled quietly.
"What was that?!" Fralex snapped, flaring out his wings angerily.
"Royal Guards of Mercury, why do you follow your current lord when he is allied with a being that will destroy this world and the entire Sol System? Join me in removing your corrupt king and I will ensure that Mercury remains safe and free. Do you accept?" Oblivion turned and made eye contact with the several dozen guards that surrounded his group. Several shuffled their feet uncomfortably till what appeared to be the captain of the gaurd stepped forward and pointed at Fralex.
"Men, arrest lord Fralex immediatly."
The phoenix backed up as his men turned on him, before leaping into the air in a flash of flames and going full phoenix. Several guards leapt into the air after him and blocked his escape while also casting stop. Soon Fralex was restrained and being led away. Nightfire, who had watched the whole incident stepped forward.
"What are you doing to Brother?"
Hiro knelt beside the child and put a hand on his shoulder. "Fralex has done some bad things. He's in trouble now but you and everyone else are safe now."
"But what about Daddy? Brother promised to bring Daddy back!" Nightfire sobbed. A blonde woman then came out, numerous bruises visable on her face and arms, looked at the Ragnorok group curiously and then at Fralex before she realized what had happened. Nightfire clung to the woman till she picked him up and he cried into her shoulder. "Mommy, where's Daddy? Brother said I could see Daddy!"
"Nightfire, your father is gone. He can't come back." At this, the young phoenix cried harder. "Shh, Nightfire, I'm still here and the man is right. We're safe now." Nightfire seemed to quiet down a little and the woman then turned her attention to Oblivion, Kai, Sivu, and Hiro. "Thank you for your help. Fralex killed the previous king who was my husband and obviously, his and Nightfire's father. Now that he no longer holds power, hopefully we can return to our peaceful lives instead of searching for this legendary orb that Apocolypse mentioned."
"I see." Oblivion nodded. "I'm glad we could be of help and I wish you and young Nightfire the best of luck. Now if you escuse us, we must leave." Oblivion turned back towards the Ragnorok but Hiro was still standing near the queen, lost in thought.
"An orb? It can't be the black materia can it?"
"Hiro!"
The blonde snapped from his thoughts and rushed towards the ship, waving at Nightfire and his mother. "Bye!"
"Bye bye mister!" Nightfire yelled, waving back as Hiro disappeared back onto the ship and the Ragnorok took off.
"So now where?" Kai asked as he spread out across a row of seats.
"I'm not sure. All we know now is that Apocolypse is looking for something but not what that something is." Oblivion sighed. "I was thinking we should actually take a small break to visit our families. I haven't seen my wife or son in months."
"Awe! I didn't know you had a kid too Oblivion!" Kai laughed. "What about you Sivu? You got family?"
"I'm engaged." the yeria answered simply.
"Hey Hiro, did you have anyone once?"
Hiro sighed and smiled sadly. "Yes. A long time ago I did but she has returned to the Lifestream like others from my time."
"I'm sorry." Kai muttered.
"Don't worry about it. You guys go ahead and visit your families." Hiro answered, shaking his head. Oblivion nodded and reset the cooridinates for Mars.
"Daddy!" a little brown haired boy ran up to Oblivion, who had knelled down to catch his son in his arms as a dark haired woman approached the wolf lord.
"Marth! You've gotten so big since I last saw you." Oblivion laughed picking the child up as the woman embraced him before turning towards his friends. "This is my son, Marth, and my wife, Liz."
"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am." Sivu bowed his head slightly, Hiro and Kai following suit.
"The same to you." Liz nodded. "Wil, how long will you stay?"
Oblivion sighed and stopped tickling a giggling Marth to look at his wife. "I'm afraid not long. Apocolypse is still loose and it's my fault. I have to fix my mistake and help Tiamatt."
"The ancient warrior? Tiamatt is her? Oblivion, why didn't you do what you originally set out to do in the first place?" Liz scolded.
"Liz, she saved me. Even after I tried to kill her. She still risked her life to save mine. I couldn't do it."
"You tried to kill Tia?" Hiro growled, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword. "Is it because of what she is? What she was made into?"
"Hiro what are you talking about? I am a prophecy keeper. I was sent to kill Tiamatt before she could destroy everything. And what do you mean by made into?" the wolf king retorted, looking confused as he set Marth down.
"It's nothing. Just something from our past. Still, I never thought that She would return but i wonder why the alias."
"She? Hiro what do you know about this?" Kai asked. Hiro sighed and shook his head. "Tell us."
"No, Tia will tell you once the Calamity is removed. I don't even know what all happened to her during the experiments or after I died but I know she has a lot of guilt and pain because of it."
"...I think I know a little about what you are talking about." Oblivion said, before sighing. "It late we should get our rest and go see Kai's family tomarrow." The others nodded and followed the wolf family to some spare rooms to use for the night.
The next day was spent as Oblivion said the day before, visiting Kai's family. Quiet Jo clung to his father's leg as he obsevered the strangers that Kai had brought home. But just like on Mars, the gorup didn't stay long and after a short visit on Uranus, recieved a message from Granis on Saturn telling the warriors that a strange fortress was found on an asteroid, along with it, swarms of Shadows. With that information, the Ragnorok was set for the strange asterroid...