Author's Note: Thank you very much for reading and for the reviews! Please let me know what you think. This is mostly about Prince Khytrik and the Vulpezians. They're actually conversing in their own language in Vulpezian, however for the convenience of the readers, I give a dubbed version of the original dialogue.
Many thanks to Infinity and M.Q. for their quick feedback and suggestions of this chapter. Happy reading!
Chapter 14: A Young Survivor
"I am a prince?"
Satyo returned the question to Prince Khytrik's unimaginable revelation of the aristocratic nature of the young warrior. Right after the special appearance to the Vulpezian people at the grand balcony, Princess Amagel escorted the two brave warrior princes to a spacious library where the two of them could have a private communication. The older prince, who was at ease on a comfortable chair, proffered a simple nod, holding Satyo's hands.
"W-What happened to my Emeosha?" [A]
"The queen was dying when I found her in her room and she asked me to take you to a safe shelter."
Somewhere in this big bang time the eventual formation of Satyo's curiosity became inevitable. "Was she beautiful?"
"She was extremely beautiful. You have her dark eyes," Khytrik divulged his student.
"What about my real Abitoji? [B] What did he look like?"
"I never saw your Abitoji, the king, but I suspected he had been slaughtered by Nolter for protecting you and your Emeosha."
"A-Are there any survivors aside from me, Abitoji?"
"No one, except you."
"I... I can see why I don't look the same as the other aliens back in the Headquarters. I... I'm all alone." Satyo told openly as a tear slid onto his cheek, feeling kind of outsider from among the rebels.
"Ssh, no, you're not alone. I'm your Abitoji, remember?" the prince enlivened the boy, pushing his warm tear away. "I'll always be here for you when you need me."
"Abitoji, there's one thing I don't understand... what's the point with all the training when you didn't let me fight with you when the Emperor and his army came?"
Prince Khytrik was intuitively aware that one day the boy would go over at the sudden change of his plans. He wheezed a broad air before he imparted at one's leisure. "Satyo... if I lost to that Emperor and took you away from me, it would break me, so I had to hide you... for your own safety."
"Why? He would've killed you, still!"
"I just don't have a stomach to see little boys like you being treated like mean, little pigs by that monster." Like he did to me and my friends.
Satyo was partially disoriented on what happened. He gandered below his shirt and heard his teacher talk again in full honesty.
"...having you uninvolved in the battle alleviated me and that way I could face him alone without worrying about someone so dear to me. Satyo, I'm sorry for being so hard on you during our training days. I only wanted you to pay attention on the methods I've shown you."
He gathered his eyes up and tepidly said to the man who raised him, "It's okay, Abitoji. If it wasn't for your strictness, I wouldn't have gotten stronger!"
"Good answer," Khytrik let go of the boy's hands and rested his own on his legs. An air of untroubledness intruded between the two warriors for few seconds and went on. "I have got news for you."
"What? Are you going to marry the princess?"
"Ha, ha, ha, no!" the prince laughed and messing the boy's hair playfully. "I've officially adopted you as my son."
"R-Really?" Satyo wasn't certain if he heard his Abitoji right, but he did proclaim it out loud.
"I've been thinking of this for the past few weeks even before I started teaching you to fight, but I put my intention aside until now. I learned to like you more than a student. I'd love to take full responsibility of you as my own and see you grow up. What do you say?"
Satyo's voice box was pretty near frozen solidly in his throat at the result of his happiness. He jumped onto the prince's chest and the latter enveloped him back with his arms. "Oh, Abitoji, thank you! I'm so happy! I always wanted a parent! Thank you so much! I promise I'll be good to you!"
Prince Khytrik let the young prince cry for some time. Poor kid. He had lost his parents before he could even walk...
"But... if you marry the princess, does that mean she's going to be my new Emeosha?"
What a smart boy. Where in galaxy did he get that idea? Prince Khytrik's beaming expression had surceased at the boy's logic. He shrugged, "Maybe... do you like her to be your Emeosha?"
"Well, I already have someone in mind."
"Is that right? Who is she?"
How much Satyo would love to tell Prince Khytrik of how Candy had been miserable for many evenings in her bedroom, seeking for 'Albert', although he preferred to stay lull and neutral and wait for his new adopted father to make a move. He cleared his hands off of Khytrik and drifted farther away from him like a silly schoolboy. "Oh no! I'm late! I'll tell you later, Abitoji! I promised my new friend I'd play with him and his friends. Bye!"
Now, what's up with that boy? He certainly is acting strange... he wondered innocently with a silent titter, leaving him unenlightened by Satyo's veracious excuse.
o - o - o - o - o
Seeing that peace had been reanimated in the Planet of the Vulpezians, little by little the fox humanoids' morale had grown and actively led their old lives back that were plundered by Nolter.
Prince Khytrik was visiting the construction site personally where the hard workers were re-building the damaged areas in the great city along with Princess Amagel, Prince Satyo and General Garkan. The Vulpezians found the warrior prince a bit extraordinary when he stopped by to lend them a hand, and so did Satyo. Amagel could presume in hidden manner that they have been influenced by the daily movements of the people of Earth. There was no doubt the ambience would be more prosperous than ever before. Additionally, they set off to the families of Nolter's victims and offered their heartfelt sympathies. One of the Vulpezian women gave birth to a son recently. Prince Khytrik was overjoyed and set forth that this child was fortunate enough to be born in a world from tyranny and oppression.
The minute Prince Khytrik had stepped out of the house, he was crowded without a warning by small Vulpezian children who were accompanied by their Abitoji or Emeosha. Each one of them cheerfully handed flowers to the prince as thanksgiving. He was absorbed with their childish laughter that was like a stunning music in his ears and he allowed them to show their own affections towards him.
In good time, the prince noted an elderly woman and her companion coming to his way to give thanks for shouldering the status of their world back to its normal color. She had recounted that she could see Meizuon in Prince Khytrik and they were definitely very much undifferentiated. She was filled with respect for Meizuon for showing his loyalty as a soldier despite his lower rank to the former Emperor, the Father of Nolter. The prince had grown interest of the subject when it comes to his real Abitoji that he spared some precious time to confer with the elderly.
That same night, Prince Khytrik crept into a bedroom where he found his new adopted son Satyo sound asleep. The little, Agerdisian prince was noticeably exhausted from playing with Vulpezian children, or helping the laborers work on the site this afternoon. Khytrik espied a couple of pictures above Satyo's small body in his hand. Very carefully he pulled them out of the boy's hand as not to ruin his idleness and saw they were good shots of him and a certain blonde, straight haired-lady with sparkling, green eyes from the human world.
The first picture is when he and Candy were building a sand castle at the beach. And the other picture is where they danced all night in a capsule ride in Singapore on Candy's birthday. He didn't disclaim at all that the pair was very much in love and happy with each other when together. He had the aspects of behaving cozily as a human more than a Vulpezian. The conversation he had with Satyo regarding the new Emeosha the other day had whopped him to relive. Could it be the woman the boy was implying was none other than Candy? He put the pictures back in Satyo's hand and posed before the window, looking very contemplative.
Candy... I left your world to distance myself... I wanted you to forget me... I wanted you to live a new life with a fellow human who can love you more than I do... but an image of you kept playing over and over in my dreams... my heart is powerless to release you...
Getting ready to hit some shuteye, the prince perched on the bed next to Satyo. He pulled the sheets over him and Satyo and warmly rubbing the boy's head. Being a first-time father to Satyo gave him a bizarre, but wonderful feeling inside. Never had he experienced any good father-and-son relationship from Nolter. What General Garkan notified about his parents' secret bond, he wasn't yet born in the world when his real Abitoji, Meizuon, was killed in the battle. If only I had the power to redeem the past, my Abitoji may be still alive and watched how I was brought up by my dearest Emeosha and I'd have felt his presence every day.
The prince leaned his head on the pillow with his hands under his nape. A smiling image of Candy reappeared on the ceiling. He nailed down the day how dreadful Candy's face was when she accused him of tolerating her wealthy female neighbor flirt with him when she was busy slaving around in blood and sweat at work. It wasn't easy for him to control his mischievous chuckle when the scenery was more pleasant to scrutinize each time Candy gets irritated, summing up the part where he jocularly pressured the human girl to teach him how to kiss...
Satyo simpered a bit in secret that he got his Abitoji to view at his stolen trophies.
o - o - o - o - o
As days flew by, Khytrik and Satyo were down strolling among the grassy meadows and stream just few walks away from the palace. The prince exhaled a sigh of contentment as he inspected liveliness in his people who were passing by once again. The darkness that shadowed the entire planet impelled his people to live in depression and agony on account of Nolter's wicked reign was still neoteric in his memory.
His nostalgic thoughts were interrupted by a group of young Vulpezian ladies' friendly giggles as they walked by. One of them greeted the prince in obvious, nervous manner. "Hello, Prince Khytrik!"
"Good day to you, ladies!" He waved at them with a sweet smile and went away.
"He's more handsome when we're this closer!" shrieked the second girl.
The third girl blurted out, "When I first saw him on the balcony, he became my ultimate crush! Too bad, he's already engaged to Princess Amagel!"
Upon hearing their adoring comments, the prince smiled shyly and his natural face changed to a color of boiled lobster. Satyo saw this and asked him in a humble tone of voice. "Why are you blushing, Abitoji?"
"Uh, nothing...! Satyo, I can't seem to find my dagger. Do you know where I left it, by any chance?"
"Hmm.. I'm not sure, Abitoji...," Satyo said, trying not to sound suspicious like he was hiding something. "Maybe you dropped it in the mountain where we ate lunch before Nolter invaded Earth."
"Is that so... perhaps I misplaced it somewhere..."
"May I ask whose the dagger is for? You've been staring at it every time we take a break from our sparring session."
"It's for a special friend of mine...," The prince defined and steadily toning his voice down as he reckoned. "However, I don't think I'll part with it anymore..."
"Why not?"
Prolonging the issue, especially with regard to his gift for the human girl made Prince Khytrik uncomfortable without fail that he had to dodge it in different ways to knock around.
The bold warrior focused in the sky while sauntering with Satyo towards the north. "Satyo, are you happy here in Vulpez with me? This world is incredibly larger than Earth you can roam wherever you like. The people here are gentle in nature and you'll have no problem making friends with these people. I shall provide you a private teacher, so you can maintain on your studies where we left off."
That bountiful proposition had jostled Satyo to muteness for less than a minute. His Father was more likely decisive to reside in Vulpez permanently. He overtook the prince and met his eyes with pleading look. "Abitoji, please don't get mad at what I'm about to say. I... wish to live on Planet Earth..."
"Why there? Everything you need here is more advanced than on Earth, won't you like that?"
"It's not that important to me. I'm happy when we're together in the mountains and I miss the good things we do on Earth. I made so many human friends my own age when I scouted around the planet, and I'd love to be with them."
It was Khytrik's turn to receive stratosphere of long silence. He hated to admit it in front of his son, but he did miss his favorite comfort zones in the magnificent blue planet mightily as well. There were some things on Earth he'd fancy so much that his planet would never have.
Satyo asked again. "Can we live there like you promised me, Abitoji?"
Looking down at Satyo's dark, but angelic orbs, the prince followed up and indulged a neighborly tap on his son's back. "Sigh... I'll think about it."
All at once it appeared like a lightning of threat that inserted into the minds of the two defenders when they nosed out an unknown powerful force not far from where they were standing. The long and blonde-haired prince let out a question, "Did you sense that?"
"Yes... and his aura is not of evil... hey... it's gone! How...?"
That aura is similar to mine... could it be...? Khytrik apprehended and quickly disrupted by children's sprightly voices that came from the sky.
"Satyo!" One of the Vulpezian children called out who were flying through the air.
The little prince briskly swung his arms at his friends. "Hello!"
"We're going to the cave! Do you want to come with us?"
Prince Khytrik caught sight of Candy, collecting flowers on his favorite childhood hill where he used to play with Princess Amagel. Candy... whereas his mind had deceived him genuinely and he was steered to disappointment as the true form of his childhood best friend came in clearly into his sight.
"Go ahead and join them, son. I will see you later back in the palace."
"Okay, but I want to know your answer when I come back."
"Demanding, aren't we? I will let you know soon. Now, go and they're waiting for you." Being said that, Satyo bolted into the sky like a missile.
Prince Khytrik went up to the hill which he shared his youthful days with his friend, Princess Amagel.
"Ah, Prince Khytrik! What a surprise! What brings you here?"
"Please, Amagel. Don't add PRINCE next to my name. It's more appropriate when you call me 'Khytrik' like you used to..."
"My apologies. I'm more familiar to call you in proper manner for you'll become our new Emperor soon."
The prince sat down by the princess. "Just because I'll be that tyrant's replacement doesn't mean you can address me formally."
"How do you feel right now? Does my antidote give you any slight headache? Or haven't your frequent hallucinations vanished yet?"
"I'm in perfect condition with all thanks to you and General Garkan. I hope I can think of a way to repay you back, Amagel."
"You don't have to. It is my duty as a doctor to care for my patients."
Like the old days, they enjoyed watching people underneath that wander in different ways. "How pleasant to witness our people recover their old lives back."
"I can't argue with that," Princess Amagel said with a slight of brackishness in her tone. "Other than that, my mind would have been peaceful if I hadn't experienced something harsh like they had."
The prince turned his face to Amagel. "What do you mean?"
"My friend, words can't describe the hardship I've been through after the Emperor grabbed you..."
He comprehended of what was distressing the princess that he pushed his weight a little closer and was willing to lend an ear. "Tell me, Amagel."
"When the demented Emperor imposed you to be one of his followers, I was very exorbitantly with his plans of conquest." The princess was firm enough to undress her upper garment in front of Prince Khytrik. "I was your first victim, Khytrik."
The prince's eyes widened in horror and his face was distinctly stupefied at the hideous scars on the princess' half naked body. "Amagel..."
"Nolter had dictated you to finish off your close friends. When my turn came up after you put our playmates and friends to death, I was crying before you and begged you not to harm me, but your eyes and laughter were full of evil that you couldn't hear my voice. You ruined my body by slashing with your whip repeatedly."
Prince Khytrik's temperature shot up, trembling with rage and clenched his fists. "Nolter really was a monster... how dare he involve my friends..."
She closed her clothing as she narrated flatly, "I want you to know that I'm positively not angry with what you've done, but at the corrupt way Nolter monopolized you and the other young boys. My parents were loyal supporters of the former and deceased Emperor and abstained to partake of Nolter's new order, and so he had his men slay them. I promised myself that one day I'd take his head to avenge my parents' deaths."
"W-What happened to you after that?"
"When you and the Emperor left me lifeless... his men disposed of me by throwing me into space like garbage. I had been rescued from near death by a known warrior and took me in and stayed with him in another planet. For years, the warrior had trained me to become a skilled fighter to defend the Vulpezians from the Emperor's grasp. I have emerged as a doctor and since then, I preserved to invent a powerful antidote that would dissolve the effects of the control pill you had devoured by force by Nolter's scientist. I've achieved experiments countless of times to test whether I resolved the perfect formula to free you from your ordeal."
"May I be so bold to ask the name of this warrior that saved you? Could it be this person who trained you happens to be my...," he asked the warrior princess.
"His name's Meizuon. Your Abitoji."
The answer had brightened the prince's face. "Is... is he still alive? I thought I had sensed his presence beforehand, but..."
"Affirmative, but he wished for you not to seek him and let him to come to you on his own will."
"On what reason?"
"I have no clue. Even I have been wondering why he kept himself hidden like a clam from the Vulpezians though he's truly alive and well. Our people waited for so many years to see him again."
"I will look for him, then..."
Amagel faced the prince in an instant. "Khytrik, you simply must respect his wishes. I do not know his reasons, but I've a hunch that your encounter with him will come to pass."
Dejectedly, his eyes led him at the father and son who were playing in a distance. "But... I longed to see Abitoji after I lost Emeosha... I don't even know what he looks like..." There was a sympathetic expression on Amagel's face when she heard a heavyhearted tone coming from her friend. The prince dropped it and carried on. "How... how did Abitoji survive from his last battle?"
"Your Abitoji had lost his memory for many years. Some aliens looked after him until he recovered his strength. When he repossessed his memory back, he remembered the people very precious to him, but eventually discovered that Nolter had his people decimate your Emeosha and took you away. It plainly crushed his spirit, but that didn't cease him from pursuing his plans on pulling Nolter down from his throne."
"Why didn't he even try to come and get me?" The prince's gripe sounded not far from a child's.
"You were under leverage of the pill and stronger than him. He had settled upon carrying on with his goal than to get smothered by his own son."
The prince broke off after few minutes of reticence and suddenly recalled something from way back. "I'm bothered at something else. On the first time I met this girl of lower realm at the park nearly fifteen years past... I went through intense pain in my head. Was her presence a result that the effects of control pill in my body melted instantly?"
The princess batted a doubtful smile. "What happened to you back there had nothing to do with your human friend. In strict confidence I had followed you to Earth and spiked your drink with a temporary antidote while you were bathing in a barren lake. You were unable to expose me because I minimized my aura lower than human's. I was appointed as spy for the Vulpezian rebels by your Abitoji in order to sneak into Nolter's palace to grab any information of his invasion. One by one, I destroyed Nolter's men in random planets they were on until I found out your capture and threw you into cell after you started to disregard Nolter's commands."
"If I'm not mistaken... you were the same spy who visited me in prison and took advantage of my vulnerability and shoved that poison into my throat with all your might."
The princess nodded in response. "My main target is to loosen you from the Emperor's cruelty. I could no longer handle to see the severe punishment given to you by the Emperor, so I made my way to lead you from execution. We needed you alive. You and I are the only fighters left that can overpower Nolter and his men. The Vulpezian rebels and I had a gathering the same day that we'd constrain you to lose consciousness for a few days, and report to the Emperor you've been finished off and had him cast you into space and be brought you in The Keepers Headquarters on Earth by the rebels. I was determined to be there for you, but I couldn't defy your Abitoji's strict instructions he gave me. He had ordered me to forget my friendship I had with you and focus on my mission. I failed to introduce myself as your friend in fear of my cover would be blown if the guards found out. Truthfully, I hadn't tested if that poison would work. I almost thought I had obliterated you for good. Forgive me for my carelessness, Khytrik!"
"Amagel...," Prince Khytrik who was moved by Princess Amagel's true friendship sheltered his arms around her to console her. Amagel didn't foresee this kind of affection coming from the former leader of Dark Zaieddon. She was unable to shed tears for she had been directed to stay frigid and tough all her life. She could feel the prince's warm breath on her back as he was speaking tenderly. "I owe you my life, thank you. When I was in 6-year prison, I imagined so much if you or any of our friends were still living. You impressed me with your bravery to survive no matter how dangerous you had entered. As you had shown me your marks of my soulless deed patently rumpled me to the extreme and never in my right mind would I ever hurt any of my friends. I will never forgive that monster for taking over my mind for his greed for power."
Gently, Amagel relieved herself from the prince's cuddle and gazed at his anxious, blue eyes with her beam. "Let us not dwell on what's already done, nor hold onto resentment towards him any further, Khytrik. You don't know how happy I am to find you alive and you weren't entirely overflowed in darkness. The future of our planet is important right now and it's not yet too late to bring everything back to its former warmth and serenity."
Together they sighed deeply and guided their eyes freely onto the sky. Amagel began to depict the prince before long, "Raising Satyo on your own even if he isn't your blood is pleasing to every one of us. I can see myself in the boy when your Abitoji supervised me with his harsh methods of fighting."
"I don't know. Abitoji must be different from me. The boy complains that I'm being too nice to him for holding back my true power."
"Satyo is very lucky to have someone who is concerned over him. I know someday, you will become a good Abitoji... and an amorous mate to the woman you love."
The woman I love? Unloading predicament from the prince's chest about someone who had gotten closer to him wasn't one of his best preferences until now. One way or another, his heart appeared to be divided into two when he opened up with the princess. "I don't think that's going to happen in the future, if you're referring to that person from Earth. It's about time I face the fact that we're not really meant for each other..."
The fox princess was definitely floored when Prince Khytrik cited his human friend, although she never meant any woman specifically. She had no interest to pry into the prince's personal affairs, but the change in him was unachievable for her to ignore in plain sight. "Why? Are you worried that we Vulpezians might object of your fondness to your friend? The Emperor is gone. You can fulfill everything you wish on your life as a free Vulpezian."
"That's not it. I just think she doesn't deserve me for not sparing her and her Kywa [C] from danger. Terry, I believed, was his name. I was too much immersed with my mission... couldn't neglect it... paying no mind to their cry of help on purpose had caused them to meet their deadly fate. Later, I changed my mind. Her Kywa already died as Satyo and I had arrived."
"Khytrik, don't blame yourself for what happened. Your Abitoji left General Garkan definite procedures that we couldn't associate with humans. You've done everything to prepare for your battle against the Emperor. At the end, your human friends would've died anyway if you abjured your task to intervene in the situation of the Earthlings."
"I want her to shut me out of her life forever, and be happy in the presence of her own kind..."
"Is that why you requested for termination of your memory? To forget every moment you had with this human girl?" The prince gestured his head, however that didn't convince the princess in entirety, and she knew her friend's heart was still burning for this Earthling. She believed she had cured her best friend successfully out of his previous sadistic state, yet he was still suffering terribly. He may defeat any enemy he meets, but precisely not this one. "Are you certain? I'd say you need more time to think things over before you come up with rash decision."
"So, what stopped you from doing so when you confined me into a healing capsule?"
How could Princess Amagel explicitly clarify to the Prince Khytrik that the progression had been prevented by his own Abitoji? She disliked the way of being tensed to figure a way to come up with unconsidered excuses as not to broaden the prince's suspicions. "It was too much for me to see your son weep in front of me and General Garkan," which is true she said in her innermost thought. "...pleading not to perdure with your request and I decided to drive my attention to other patients. The little boy looks up to you like his Abitoji, so I know how exactly he feels of being alone in the world. Please, do not scold the boy, but me." The prince succumbed to speechlessness and glanced away. "I heard from Satyo that your human friend calls you... 'Al-burt'?"
"Yes... and it's Al-bert."
She aah-ed softly, "Hmm... not a bad name... for a human."
"It was a bit strange at first until I'm used to it...," he remarked in casual tone, and then something flashed on his mind swiftly. "...by the way, Amagel, about this marriage that arranged by our par..."
The princess quickly cuts him off without meeting his eyes. "There will be no such thing as marriage between us."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'm already engaged to another prince who is non-Vulpezian. He and I aimed to get married as soon as the war is over. Your Abitoji is informed of this."
"Since when?"
"Prince Reimhan was another victim of Nolter and your Abitoji was able to snatch him from the Emperor's wickedness. I was there to care for his injuries until we became good friends. Meizuon trained him to be a fighter like he did with me. Then, we fell in love with each other. He's very kind, courageous, and attentive. I'll introduce you to him when he returns from the planet where your Abitoji resides."
"What if our people aren't fond of this non-Vulpezian prince?"
"They can't do a thing. This is my decision. I'm happier having you as my friend. The Emperor doesn't exist anymore and we no longer live in his laws. They'll acknowledge that. I can achieve what I want. The new law will be procreated under by a new Emperor."
"Then, I'm happy for you, my friend."
"I must leave you now, Khytrik," Princess Amagel said to her friend, lifting herself up and ready to depart. "Please, don't forget the conference we'll be having with the rebels and the officials in the morning."
"Thank you," the prince rejoindered, and parked his hands on the grassy ground. Not long after the princess withdrew, there he grasped warmth radiating in his smile as though he was a lone bird being finally freed from its cage.
o - o - o - o - o
That morning, it took an hour in the vast conference room where Prince Khytrik, Princess Amagel, General Garkan, and Satyo assembled with the elders and the other important officials.
And again, fate had been unkind to Prince Khytrik that his Abitoji, Meizuon, the main leader of the rebellion was not among the attendees in the assembly. He had pursued unaffected notwithstanding his Abitoji's absence.
"Has everyone arrived at conclusion on who's going to take Nolter's place?" asked the first official of the Vulpezians.
One of the elders avowed in nearly running out of perseverance sound. "The Vulpezians are getting impatient and they want to know our results on regarding this person that will rule all over Vulpez."
Little did Prince Khytrik knew who was staring blankly in space, had been noted by General Garkan. "Prince Khytrik?"
On the prince's right side where Satyo was gave him a soft shake on his lower forearm. "Abitoji..."
Surveying all their eyes were on him nudged him back to uncross his arms from his chest and center on most complicated matters. "Hm...? W-What is it?" He saw Amagel from across the table setting off a 'you-are-hopeless' glare at him with a half smile.
"I gather that you find our imperative discussion uninteresting to you, am I right? Or perhaps we can set a meeting another day?"
"No, no, I've been listening. Carry on, please."
"We all think it's about time for you to step into Nolter's throne and declare the new order of our planet."
"In my point of view, I would say we must find someone worthy enough to exalt the position of the late Emperor." The prince strongly illustrated at his Abitoji's close friend and ally without hesitation.
"What are you talking about, milord? There is no other less capable in this position, but you alone!" the second Vulpezian official reminded the stubborn warrior prince.
"Forgive me if my judgment offends everyone, however I reject the right to become a new Emperor of this planet. I'm absolutely not the perfect candidate to lead our people."
The general laid out a question with minor apprehension. "Is there any trouble, Prince Khytrik?"
"Garkan...," Prince Khytrik heard himself murmur in calm tone as he rose from his chair. "I have always told you in the beginning at the Headquarters that after this bloodshed, I will not sit in his place. I'm not qualified for this because of my incoherent negligence..."
All the same, Princess Amagel seized the concept on what really bothered her princely friend. There was a report of him that he abandoned his duty after his failed attempt from his last task a few years back. "Khytrik, are you still thinking of those unfortunate, orphaned children that were slain by the Emperor's army?"
"...I got carried away with this newly technique that I barely mastered and because of my obstinacy that caused all the children to bite the dust. Forever my conscience will never let it go..."
"All, but one, my friend." she corrected the prince sternly.
"W-What? I don't understand..."
The warrior princess commanded one of the Vulpezian soldiers. "Bring in the little survivor."
"Right away, your Highness."
Five minutes had passed, the soldier came back with a Vulpezian maiden who was serving as a nanny for the little girl. She was blind and younger than Satyo. The princess took the little girl by the shoulders and presented her to Prince Khytrik.
"I should've told you earlier. When we obtained General Garkan's message, the rebels and I were coming to your aid, but you had already left the planet as we landed. That was our perfect opportunity of our reunion. One of my fellow rebels found this little girl at the bottom of the pit. Through this survivor, her older brother tossed her inside to protect her from Nolter's men. Like Satyo, she's the only survivor in that planet. Tragically, she lost her eyesight from the violent energy blast."
Prince Khytrik was captivated with compassion after hearing his friend's tale. He bent his knee to observe the little girl. The young alien girl detected Prince Khytrik's presence and allowed her to caress the shape of the prince's face with her small hands. "What is your name, little girl?"
"Irina."
Satyo being friendly with children came forward to the girl. "Hi, my name is Satyo."
"Hello..."
Prince Khytrik shot upwards. "Amagel, can you do something to mend her eyesight?"
"I was way ahead of that one when she was under my care, but to no avail. She'll remain in that state forever."
The prince protested. "This isn't right. Is there no other way? She is too young to struggle with blindness at an early age. She should be out there playing with other children."
"I did everything I could, I'm sorry, Khytrik." Princess Amagel sadly closed her eyes for couple of seconds as she conveyed her final confirmation.
"I know!" Satyo hollered after an idea had darted in his mind. "Abitoji, I know some aliens who can bring her sight back!"
Khytrik and Amagel put through the wringer at the same time. "Where?!"
"I happened to stop by at their planet called Colvan not far from here because I had trouble with my ship. They're very friendly people. While I was fixing the ship's problem, I saw one of the Colvan people that have a power to heal anyone with any ailment for in a matter of seconds! Come with me! I'm sure they'll be glad to help Irina!"
"Excellent find, Satyo!" He said, hugging his son by his arm. "Alright, I will go with you and Irina to that planet. This is my chance to see what you've got from your training in space."
"I'll go along with you," intervened the princess. "I wouldn't miss this moment of watching you spar with your son. And it'll be an honor if you permit me to fight you in another deserted planet, Prince Khytrik."
There was a gleam in the prince's eye and shot back a favorable snicker. "I accept your challenge, Princess Amagel. I'd be glad to see the kind of fighting technique that my Abitoji taught you."
"Only if you give me your word not to hold your power back just because we're friends."
"Done!"
"Wow! This is great! A one-on-one match between the two, good friends! This is going to be awesome to watch!" Satyo gabbed in high spirits as though he reserved a last-minute seat for one day concert.
Suddenly, one of the control operators informed His Highness. "Prince Khytrik! We're getting a signal from Earth!"
"From Earth?!" The fox prince blinked his eyes.
On behalf of Prince Khytrik, the princess ordered the operator. "Turn the monitor on, but keep us invisible!"
The control operator pressed the button immediately and a familiar, looking human gradually turned up on the giant screen.
"Why, it's Candy!" Satyo cried after he leaped forward to the monitor. Candy, you look even more beautiful than the last time I saw you. The boy thought. The prince noticed the boy's unusual reaction and diverted his eyes on the screen.
An indignant official questioned the general. "What is that human doing to that crystal ball with a cloth? Doesn't she realize when she rubs that ball, she gets a connection with us?"
"She is fully aware of that," said Garkan in defense of Candy.
The prince chided annoyingly at them, keeping his stance on the girl who was wiping the dirt off of the crystal ball. "Silence, everyone. I want to hear what she has to say. Turn up the volume, please."
"Pardon me, Prince Khytrik. This ball got so dusty I had to clean it up. How are you? Are you feeling much better now? Have you become an Emperor, yet? Can you hear me, Prince Khytrik? Hmm...I guess I've been had by your general. I wanted so much to talk to you. Oh well! Hey, guess what? My best friend, Jamee, is going to be a Mommy in a few months! Hopefully, when you decide to come back, we'll see her first born together. I miss you, Prince Khytrik, or Albert, but I honestly like your both names and I care less about who or what you are! Please, take good care of your people, alright? 'Bye!"
Satyo thoughtfully glanced at his Abitoji with hopeful look pasted on his childish face. Princess Amagel's gentle voice was heard, supporting a positive compliment about Khytrik's friend from Earth. "Hm, you never told me how outspoken, but fascinating your human friend is, Khytrik!"
It wasn't questionless if the warrior prince auscultated his friend's welcoming flattery for he was like locked in an old dark room and hearkened no one else's voice that entered into his sharp fox ears, except Candy alone. He could feel his heart beat faster.
'Candy... I've been often worrying how you were doing on Earth... I can't deny myself that I want be near you... to hold you in my arms again... there isn't a day goes by when I don't think about you... without you beside me, everything is cloaked with emptiness. My heart still holds for you.'
The second member of the officials approached motionless Prince Khytrik and spoke up with dauntlessness. "Prince Khytrik...? Your answer to this conversation is required immediately. What do you propose?"
A few short of time had been spared before Prince Khytrik turned to his fellow rebels. He emphatically disclosed with an authoritative tone. "People of Vulpez...I have made up my decision. I shall not take over the throne, as we speak. As for the new ruler of the Vulpezians, I have humbly chosen the most qualified person to lead our new people, and I introduce you..."
Everyone in the room, especially the elders, was sent to state of shock at Prince Khytrik's chosen successor whilst his son Satyo featured a slow, delightful grimace.
o - o - o - o - o
The next day, Prince Khytrik went on his new mission to Planet Colvan, taking Satyo, Irina, Princess Amagel and her soon-to-be mate, Prince Reimhan, along with him in the princess' spaceship.
The newly friendship between the Colvans and the Vulpezians was not quite strenuous as they thought and they were able to gain their reason of their visit. The prince and his friends were naively astonished at the remarkable healing power the Colvans have. They had restored Irina's eyesight and the girl was very thankful to people for helping her overcome the impossibility.
Since that day, Irina had been formally adopted by Prince Khytrik, and she received the warrior prince as her new Abitoji. She was overly thrilled as the prince wrapped his loving arms around her.
Shoving their long-time friendship aside, the battle between Prince Khytrik and Princess Amagel was very long and intense, except none of them won or lost. They were evenly invincible.
The royal ceremony had been taken place for Princess Amagel to accept the crown as the planet's new Empress after she had married dashing Prince Reimhan. The temple was flocked with many royals and individuals. Prince Khytrik and his two children, Satyo and Irina, were among the princess' special guest of honors and he was jubilant for his best friend and her mate.
Prince Khytrik had faith in Amagel's prowess in leadership and had no regrets for leaving his right to the throne. Some Vulpezians were likely disgruntled of his decision and later, they had moved forward.
As of today, Planet Vulpez marks the beginning of a new age under Empress Amagel.
In less than two months, the prince had decided he'd settle on Earth along with his children, thinking the planet needed a defender in case a new enemy came forward. Empress Amagel granted his request, followed by a suggestion to removing Satyo's horns on his forehead if he were to live like a human. After the operation, the boy is now transformed into a human child and that pleased the prince.
The young Vulpezian ladies who had an enormous puppy-love crush on Prince Khytrik were greatly disheartened by the news of retiring from their planet to be with their universal rival from Earth. They had their hearts on marrying Prince Khytrik after the Empress renounced her arranged marriage to her childhood friend, however they disagreed to agree that his choice wasn't all that bad. As the matter of fact, they all thought it was very charming and romantic and they wished him the best on his new life.
There emerged the day of the prince's departure with the children to random planets before winding up at the final destination... Earth.
"Khytrik, please don't be a stranger when you want to come here with the children anytime. No matter what, you'll always be our people's Prince of the Vulpezians."
"Certainly, milady. We'll keep in touch in my Abitoji's Headquarters."
"Now it's my turn to complain," she criticized teasingly. "It's warm to hear when you call me 'Amagel'. Don't stay too long in space, or Candy will be worried."
"She'll understand everything when I explain to her. All she need is a little charm from me and she'll be fine," boasted the prince with a wink.
"Ha, ha! Good luck with that. Give her my regards. My mate and I hope to meet your Rywa [D]one day."
"Of course, it will be a pleasure!" Prince Khytrik stretched his hand to Amagel's mate. "Reimhan, I leave the planet to your hands and take good care of my friend and your child." Just like his Abitoji, Meizuon, he can sense a child inside the woman's womb a week after the intercourse.
Prince Reimhan acted in response. "I will. Be safe on your journey to Earth, Khytrik."
"Garkan, any news about my Abitoji?"
The general shook his head. "None, milord, but I assure you your message to him will be delivered instantly."
"I see. Well...? It's time to leave," sounded off the prince, waving happily at his friends. "I'll contact you when I reach Earth! Until then!"
The Empress, her mate, and General Garkan displayed altogether a farewell sign.
"Alright! Are we ready to explore?" He inquired the children who were already safe-locked in their seats.
"Yeah!"
As the prince's newly-built spaceship blasted off and disappeared from their sight, a well-known warrior Meizuon came forth beside the Empress. She charged him with a question without seeing his face, "I can never understand you, master. Do you not know how much your long, lost son wanted to meet you?"
"Perhaps in a right time, I will." His deep voice promised and added, "About delaying of aborting his memory... I never ended up with my beloved Edhelia. Secretly, I revisited Earth and I saw this human blonde girl for the first time. Judging from her such innocent face, I knew she loved my son, and still does. I didn't want her to suffer the same fate living without someone she loves as I did in the past. I give my son my blessing and they do deserve each other, Amagel."
The Empress heaved a complacent sigh. "You did the right thing, master. I'm glad you came on time to stop the process."
The veteran warrior of the Vulpezians was left alone by the young Empress and her company, and he gaped at the sky where the ship had fled. Go in peace, my son. Someday, we'll see each other. I'm proud of you. My beloved Edhelia... wherever you may be... I'm grateful of you for raising our son with good heart, courage and honor.
And so, while traveling without hindrance in the galaxy, Satyo and his new sister, Irina, began to chat and play around on the floor in Satyo's room. Prince Khytrik attached a picture of him and Candy on the control section. Candy, wait for me, my love, we'll soon be together! I can hardly wait to see you!
CONTINUED...
[A] It means 'Mother' in Prince Khytrik's native language
[B] It translates 'Father'
[C] Kywa is boyfriend, like I stated in a previous chapter.
[D] Rywa is girlfriend.
© EnakaT 2013