Hey guys, I'm back! So sorry for the looong wait between chapters and I even left you guys on a cliffhanger. I'm so sorry. My muse hasn't been cooperating with me at all lately but I'm getting back into the swing of things. Thank you so much for your reviews and kind words. I hope you'll like this chapter.

P.S. any mention of temperature in this story is going to be in Fahrenheit and not Celsius. I'm sorry for the confusion but there are conversion charts online if you need them.

Disclaimer: I only own Aurelia.

Everyone turned to Jaden.

"So wait, Jaden has to reach Marcel within thirty minutes?" Alexis asked.

"Yup, and if he doesn't, our friends will be sent away forever." Axel reiterated.

"He's right, we better find that Rainbow Dragon." Hassleberry said.

"And figure out how to unlock its power." Bastian said as he wrote in his notebook.

"So Bastian, what do you reckon? You think this card will get us home?" Jim asked.

"After all it took to get it, it better." Chazz grumbled.

Aurelia crossed her arms. "Dad's not going to be happy that the dimension-thingie broke."

"Won't he be happy that you're back and not worry about that?" Hassleberry asked.

"Clearly you don't know my father."

"Jaden, this duel has got to be a trap." Alexis said. Jaden rifled through his cards, assembling his deck. "We can't trust him to keep his end of the deal."

"I'd say she's got a valid point mate." Jim said.

"But do we have a choice? He's got the upper hand now." Axel replied. "So it looks like we'll have to play by his rules."

"But he doesn't play fair." Alexis said.

"They never do Alexis." Aurelia said.

"It's a risk I'm going to have to take." Jaden said. "I can't chance losing all my friends forever. I gotta duel this guy."

"Well then Sarge, I'm going with you." Hassleberry said.

"Me too." Alexis said.

"Me three." Blair added. "We're gonna do this together.

Jaden sat mute with his head down. "I'm going alone."

"You're what?" Alexis asked.

"Yeah, please repeat that, I'm not sure I heard correctly." Aurelia said sarcastically.

"It's just not safe. Marcel's too powerful." Jaden said.

Aurelia nodded. "He got the sacred beasts didn't he?"

"I tried to stop him but I…was too late. He was able to get the three sacred beasts."

"You can't blame yourself Jaden, you tried everything you could." Blair said.

"So what if he's got the sacred beasts, you battled them before." Alexis said.

Aurelia glanced over at Bastian as he looked up from his notes. He was listening to the conversation intently.

"Right and you beat 'em! So you'll just have to tame those beasts again." Hassleberry said.

"You weren't there Hassleberry. You didn't see those beasts." Chazz said.

"And last time, Banner gave me a special card. Without Sabatiel the Philosopher's stone I never would have been able to beat them on my own." Jaden admitted. "Those sacred beasts almost had me for dinner."

Aurelia looked up. She'd thought she'd heard a noise down the tunnel. It might have just been an echo…

"That's it! I've figured it out!" Bastian shouted.

"Figured what out?" Hassleberry asked.

"What Eisensteen was trying to tell us before the transmission cut out." Bastian explained. "Remember? He was going to explain how to unlock the Rainbow Dragon card. The sacred beasts! They're our ticket out of here."

"Are you sure about that? Those things are so strong." Jesse said.

"I know. The key, must be summoning the dragon during a duel where its power could be released."

"Makes sense. Duel energy is what widened the portal the last time." Aurelia said.

"That dragon would have to be in a pretty powerful battle now." Jim said.

"Indeed it would, and here's how." Bastian said. "The Rainbow Dragon must go up against the three sacred beasts."

"You sure?" Jaden asked.

"Just think about it. If the Rainbow Dragon fought them, then maybe the energy released would awaken its full power and open the portal." Bastian explained.

"And then we could go back home." Jesse said.

"Exactly. Now that dragon card has to be summoned. Now we do have to find the card first but…"

"There's no time to waste. I'm gonna find the Rainbow Dragon, and when I do, those beasts won't know what hit 'em!" Jesse said to Jaden. "So you stall Marcel and then I'll join you with the card."

"Sounds good." Jaden said.

"I'll go with you Jesse." Axel said.

Aurelia wheeled around just as Jim shouted from his end. "We've got company! The kind that drools and duels."

Hassleberry stepped next to her. "They're slouching down this tunnel too." He said.

"How'd they even get down here?" Aurelia wondered.

"We're surrounded." Axel said.

"It's an ambush! Get ready, we've got to get Jaden to that duel before time runs out." Hassleberry said.

"At least we've got a game plan now." Bastian said.

"Guys, we've got no time to lose! So get ready to get your game on!" Axel said.

"That catchphrase of yours really spreads fast." Aurelia said to Jaden.

Hassleberry summoned a large dinosaur with a log on its head while Alexis and Jim both summoned Cyber Angel Bentin and another dragon type monster.

Aurelia hefted her borrowed duel disk. "Thanks for this by the way Jesse." She said. "Everyone cover your eyes!" she slid Luminous Spark into a spell card slot and the room lit up. "Come on!"

Everyone started running while the duel ghouls were temporarily blinded by the light. Some of them bypassed the others but Jim held them off. Aurelia played Fire Princess.

"Hassleberry, watch yourself!" she cried as Fire Princess let loose a barrage on one of the walls. Hassleberry's dinosaur blocked the debris from falling on them. Light streamed through the dust from outside.

Jaden, Bastian and Blair popped their heads out from the hole. "Check it out." Jaden said. "That's where we've got to go."

Aurelia looked through to see a raised platform outside Duel Academy that wasn't there before.

"Ancient Gear Soldier at 9 o'clock!" Bastian yelled.

"That gear soldier's no match for my Dark Triceratops." Hassleberry said as his summoned creature blocked the soldier's view of Jaden.

"I've gotta step my game up." Aurelia said. "I sacrifice Skull Red Bird and Fire Princess to summon Athena!"

Athena appeared beside her and headed off an attack from another duel ghoul. Jaden, Bastian and Blair were running ahead of them until Sy's Drilloid blocked the way.

"We're running out of time!" Bastian cried. Athena wouldn't get there in time.

Cyber Angle Dakini appeared out of nowhere and smashed Drilloid.

XYZ Dragon Cannon appeared and loomed over Alexis but Jim destroyed it. Aurelia glanced back at Chazz. "Don't look at me, that wasn't my monster." He said before summoning the three Ojamas.

When Blair's scream rent the air, Aurelia turned back to them and saw Jaden, Blair and Bastian surrounded by ghouls. Alexis and Jim were running towards them.

Hassleberry ran behind them, summoning Black Tyranno along the way. Bastian summoned two Hydrogeddons and an Oxygeddon."

Syrus summoned Patroid and Gyroid.

"Ojama Delta Hurricane!" the three Ojamas appeared in a swirl of colour and destroyed both of Syrus's monsters.

"Nice job Private Chazz!" Hassleberry said.

Aurelia glanced up to see Jaden standing in the middle still. "Jaden, start running!" she yelled just as Athena burst into pieces beside her. "Athena no!"

"I think we're gonna need a bit more fire power." Chazz said beside her.

"You think?" she replied. Aurelia grimaced. "I'm getting sick of these guys. I fuse Marie the Fallen One and the Forgiving Maiden." A warrior woman appeared on the field. "I also equip Cestus of Dagla to her." St. Joan's attack points rose to 3800.

Joan destroyed the magician that had destroyed Athena before turning to Chazz. "I think I've got enough fire power now." She smirked.

"Yeah yeah, you're hilarious."

Bastian's Water Dragon was destroyed along with Alexis's Cyber Angel. Hassleberry's Tyranno fell next. The concussive blast sent him flying.

Ancient Gear Golem looked down on all of them before firing at Jim's monster. Since the monsters were real, the force of their blasts was real as well. They were all sent flying backwards.

Aurelia rolled to a stop and tried to spit sand out of her mouth. Honestly, the things she did for these people. She glanced over and saw Jaden standing with Blair watching.

"What the hell are you doing Jaden? Go!" she shouted.

Chazz was sent barreling past her into a sand dune.

'Are you okay?' she sent.

'Peachy.'

"But-" Jaden started.

"You have to, now go!" Aurelia yelled.

Jaden grimaced and then started up the steps. Aurelia turned back to the Ancient Gear Golem. "Joan, dismantle that eyesore."

St. Joan nodded before jumping and driving her sword into the heart of the machine.

"You're not going to get very far Jaden." Aurelia heard Syrus say behind her.

"Hey little man," Hassleberry said. Aurelia turned around just as he played Jurassic Impact. The sky glowed and meteors started to rain down on them. Unfortunately, because they were all in some sort of battle royale, St. Joan was also destroyed by the meteors.

Aurelia looked around but the blast of that trap card would send them all flying. She sped over to Chazz and braced herself over him.

"Aurelia what-"

The blast impact blew sand around them in great billows and Aurelia was having a hard time holding on through the concussive force. One particularly close meteorite blasted them away and she reached out for Chazz before her world went dark.

Aurelia winced and grabbed her head as she came to. "Ugh, I hate getting knocked out."

"That makes two of us." Chazz said from beside her.

"Are you guys okay?" Hassleberry asked as he ran over to them.

"Next time you play a card like that, remember that the damage is real here!" she shouted at him. She winced and grabbed her head again. "Ow."

Hassleberry fell to his knees in front of her. "I know, I'm sorry. I knocked Syrus out too."

Aurelia and Chazz glanced over at Syrus's prone form. "Well, at least he's not dueling us anymore." Chazz said.

"He's all right; he's just taking a bit of a nap." Bastian said.

"Gather everyone into the building!" Jesse yelled from the steps. "Get them ready!"

"When did he get back?" Aurelia asked.

"Uh, when you were taking a nap." Bastian replied.

"Right."

"Let's get a move on people; we need to get these students into the school." Jim said as he dragged an unconscious student behind him.

Aurelia got to her feet and shook her head to clear the cobwebs. Time to get to work.

There were only a few more students left to drag into the school when the air suddenly got heavier. Aurelia paused and put a hand over her chest as she panted. Her magic crackled inside her as it reacted with something. She looked over at the dueling platform, but from this angle, she could only see the bottom. Marcel must have summoned the sacred beasts.

'Are you alright?' Chazz must have felt her pain.

'Fine. It's just the sacred beasts. Marcel's summoned all of them.'

'At once? Jeez. Are you doing okay?'

'I'll be better once Jaden and Jesse defeat them.'

"You alright Aurelia?" Alexis asked as she came up to her.

Aurelia glanced up at her. "I'll be fine. Just not feeling too hot right now."

"Maybe you should sit down."

"Maybe I should." Aurelia said. She approached one of the windows and looked up at the sacred beasts in the air above the platform. Those things needed to be destroyed.

Rainbows appeared in the sky and her light magic rejoiced as a white dragon appeared on Jaden and Jesse's side of the field. She had never seen this dragon before.

"Rainbow Dragon." Athena said as she appeared beside her.

"Huh, so that's what it looks like." Aurelia said. "It's beautiful."

From down here, she couldn't tell what was happening in the duel, but when all the sacred beasts disappeared and one beast stood in their place, she knew this wasn't going to end well.

The ground started shaking and Aurelia grabbed onto the wall to support herself. 'Chazz!' she cried.

'Here.' He sent back. 'I think we're going home.'

Her vision whited out so she closed her eyes, held onto the wall and prayed.

"Aurelia, open your eyes." She heard Athena's voice coax. Aurelia opened her eyes a bit and then opened them fully when she realised she was looking out the window at blue skies and the ocean beyond.

"We're back." She breathed. She looked back and saw Athena in her spirit form. "And you're a spirit again. Oh thank the gods." She sighed.

"Blue skies! Birds chirping! The ocean splashing!" Hassleberry started as he stood on one of the stone barricades.

"And best of all, no duel ghouls!" one of the students finished.

The other students seemed to be coming back to consciousness slowly. No one was exhibiting signs of being a duel ghoul so they seemed to be off the hook.

Alexis gasped near her and she watched as her bio band crumbled off her arm. Another thing to be thankful for.

'Did your bio band come off?' she sent.

'Yep, crumbled to dust.'

Aurelia glanced over in his direction. 'I really want to kiss you right now.'

She saw him smirk. 'Later. Tomorrow we're taking the day off.'

'Damn straight.'

Aurelia stepped out into the sunshine. The breeze from the ocean carried the scent of the island back to her and she breathed in deep. "It's so good to be home." She said.

"You said it." Alexis said.

"Aurelia!"

She turned and watched Aster run towards her. "Aster!" she cried before she was enveloped in his arms. She clung to him in return.

"Don't ever do that again." Aster ordered.

"Don't ever unwillingly travel to another dimension, got it." She replied cheekily.

"You're not funny."

"I think I'm adorable."

Aster stepped back and they both grinned at each other. "I missed you." She said.

"I missed you too."

"Get a room." Chazz said as he walked past them.

"Jealous Princeton?" Aurelia joked.

"Oh him? Nope."

"No, she meant of her. You know you want some of this." Aster smirked. Chazz gaped, squawked and then blushed before stomping off.

'Tell him good one.' Chazz sent.

Aurelia giggled as she felt Chazz's feedback. She winked at Aster. "He said good one." She whispered.

Aster crossed his arms. "Of course."

Aurelia glanced behind him at where Zane was standing. "So." She started. "What happened while I was gone?"

"Well, your dad went a little apeshit and started ordering teams in a tizzy." Aster replied.

She gaped. "Seto did that?"

"Of course not, Joey did."

"Ah, that makes more sense."

"He'll probably be on his way here by now." Aster said as he looked out to the ocean.

"So expect the Spanish inquisition in a few hours." Aurelia finished.

Aster smirked. "No one expects the Spanish inquisition."

Aurelia laughed long and loud. "Gods I've missed you. And movies. And food. We need food like now."

"There's a banquet starting in the Obelisk dorms." Zane said as he walked up to them.

"Awesome, I'm starving." Aurelia said. She glanced between the two of them. "So did you two have fun hanging out together while we were gone?"

"What?" Zane asked.

"Aurelia." Aster warned.

"You should hang out with Aster more often Zane." She nudged him with her shoulder. "Could be fun." She smirked before walking off.

"You're not funny Aurelia!" Aster called after her.

"Shut up, I'm hilarious!" she shouted back. She shared her amusement with Chazz who only sent her back fond exasperation. And hunger.

'Yeah yeah, I'm on my way.'

Aurelia glimpsed Jaden's form out of the corner of her eye and turned with a smile that quickly fell when she noticed how downtrodden he looked. What was up with him?

She went to approach him when Alexis stopped her. "Don't." she whispered.

"Why not? What's wrong with him?"

Alexis looked over at Jaden as he disappeared towards the Slifer dorm. "Jesse didn't make it back with us."

Aurelia glanced around but, just as Alexis said, no Jesse. "What happened?"

"Jaden says that he knew the spirit who possessed Marcel. He said her name was Yubel and he thinks she still has Jesse in the other dimension." Alexis explained.

Aurelia looked away. "And he blames himself." She finished. "Oh Jaden."

"We're all going to meet up at the Slifer cafeteria…"

"Count me in."

'I'm already there.' Chazz replied to her silent question. 'I heard about it from Jim.'

'Poor Jay.'

Aurelia and Alexis met up with Chazz, Atticus, Axel and Jim at the Slifer cafeteria. All of them trying to think up ways to cheer Jaden up but none of them seemed to fly. They were all hoping that Jaden would snap out of this on his own but there was still no sign of him. He had locked himself into his room and still hadn't emerged.

Chazz looked up when he heard the door slide open. "Jaden?" he frowned when Syrus and Hassleberry entered. "Oh it's just you losers."

"What? You've got some lip!" Hassleberry exclaimed.

"Simmer down Hassleberry, you know how Princeton is." Aurelia said from her seat next to Jim.

Syrus sighed. "So you haven't seen him either?"

"'Fraid not son." Jim replied. "He must still be in that funk, blaming himself for Jesse."

"Yeah but I wonder if there's more to it." Axel said with a pensive look on his face. "Something about that spirit that took over Marcel; seemed like Jay has some kind of link to it." He explained. "What if that spirit's true target was actually Jaden the whole time?"

"Come on, where are you getting this stuff?" Chazz asked.

"The duel. I overheard a couple of things. Not enough to piece it all together though." Axel replied.

"Huh, I wonder if…" Alexis trailed. She put her thumb to her lip.

"If what Lex?" Atticus prodded.

"After we got back, everyone was in a great mood. Everyone except Jaden." She went on to explain her encounter with Jaden after they had first gotten home. "He said her name was Yubel. And after that he wouldn't say another thing."

The door slid open suddenly and Chancellor Sheppard appeared in the doorway.

"Chancellor Sheppard?" Chazz asked.

"Why yes, and from what I just overheard Alexis say, seems I've arrived at a good time." Sheppard replied. "You see, there's a reason I've had an interest in Jaden since he first got here. Sure, he was a fine duelist, but I was most intrigued by something I heard from his parents. That when Jaden was a young boy, he had a deep connection with a duel spirit."

"Let me guess, a spirit named Yubel?" Alexis asked.

Sheppard nodded. "That's right, but there's more to the story than just that. You see, Jaden's parents were rarely home because of long hours at work so Jaden would invite various neighbourhood friends over and spend all of his free time dueling. And then, one day…his opponent just collapsed. The doctors ran all sorts of tests but they could find no explanation for his condition, medically speaking."

"Wait, you're saying that it was Yubel?" Atticus asked.

Sheppard glanced at Aurelia who answered. "Some monsters, if powerful enough, can reach into our world. However, that is very, very rare. Besides, most monsters stick to their own realm. They want little to do with ours."

"How do you know this?" Syrus said.

"I've asked." Aurelia replied.

"No one can know for sure if Yubel was really behind this, but I do know for sure that every time Jaden put Yubel in his deck, bad things would always happen to his opponents. Eventually everyone in the neighbourhood got spooked and refused to duel Jaden so long as he had that card." Sheppard said.

"So then, what did the Sarge go and do?" Hassleberry asked.

"Well as luck would have it, Kaiba Corp was accepting card submissions during this same time. The winning designs would be shot into space and infused with special cosmic matter. Jaden submitted a design for Neos which was accepted but he also convinced Kaiba Corp to send up Yubel. He loved that card so much he could never get rid of it. Instead, he hoped the cosmic infusion would make her safe to use. And so two satellites were sent into space; one with Yubel and the other, Neos." Sheppard paused. "The cosmos did their thing and made Neos a great success. But Yubel on the other hand, well, we're just now learning the effects. Effects that are quite troubling and that perhaps only Jaden has any true insight to."

They all paused to absorb this new information. Sheppard smoothed out a crease in his jacket. "Well, I'd best be getting back to the school. I'm sure plenty of parents are going to want to talk to me. Look after Jaden; this isn't really his fault." He said before he left.

They watched the chancellor go before returning to their own thoughts.

"Do you believe that story Sheppard just told us?" Jim asked the room.

"Well I wouldn't have a week ago but after everything we've gone through…" Alexis replied.

"At least it's all over now." Atticus said. "Yubel vanished in the other dimension right? So that means, we don't have to worry about her anymore."

"Yeah, you're right." Syrus said.

Aurelia glanced at her watch. "Oh no." she groaned.

"What?" they all jumped.

"Joey should be here within minutes. I'm so dead."

"Who's Joey?"

"Joey Wheeler, duelist extraordinaire!" Joey said as he wrenched the door open. "And you, young lady, are in serious trouble." He pointed at her.

Aurelia buried her face in her arms while everyone else stared at the tall blond that had loudly invaded their cafeteria.

"Wait, Joey Wheeler? Second place of Duelist Kingdom Joey Wheeler?" Syrus asked.

"That's me!"

"How do you know Aurelia?"

"I'm kinda like her uncle." Joey explained.

"More like my mother." Aurelia grumbled.

"Watch it!" Joey pointed out the door. "We're gonna have words. Outside."

Aurelia slid to her feet and walked out the door, followed by Joey who slammed it shut behind them. She winced and waited for Joey to start lecturing but instead, he pulled her to him violently and hugged her.

"Don't you ever scare us like that again." He said.

Aurelia let out a breath through her nose. "It's not like I did it on purpose." She replied and returned the hug.

"Doesn't matter, no more dimension-hopping shenanigans, that's an order." He backed away to lift her face in his hands. "Are you okay? Is he okay?" 'He' referring to Chazz. "Who's ass do I need to kick?"

"We're both fine and you can't kick anyone's ass because the duel spirit responsible is back in the other dimension. Where I'm not allowed to go again." Aurelia replied.

"Your father and I were both worried sick." Joey said.

"Uh huh, and where is he?" she said, looking around.

"Helping Sheppard tackle the fallout from this disaster. The phones have been ringing nonstop from worried parents who haven't heard anything from their kids. It was a mess while you were gone." He explained.

"How long were we gone?" she asked.

"Two weeks." He replied.

Aurelia was taken aback. "Two weeks? We were only in the other dimension for a few days! Time must really pass differently between the dimensions."

Joey put his hands on his hips. "Are you really surprised? Atem and Cassandra were only gone for two years when they returned with an eight year old in tow."

Aurelia scratched at her head. "Right. So what month is it?"

"March." He nodded at her shocked look. "Your season starts in three days, well, two now." He said as he looked up at the darkening sky.

"Time flies when you're running for your life." Aurelia deadpanned.

"I remember." He replied. "Be good kiddo, no more other dimensions."

"I'll try. No promises around here."

By the time Aurelia and Chazz made it back to their room it was night and both of them were exhausted. Little food and little sleep would do that to you.

Aurelia flopped down on the couch. "Ah, it's good to be home."

"No kidding." Chazz replied as he opened the fridge. He grabbed a can of soda before closing it again.

"I've got sand in places I don't want to think about." Aurelia said with a grimace as she took off her shoes. Sand poured out of them when she turned them over. "Wonderful."

Chazz collapsed onto the couch next to her. "I think I managed to avoid most of the sand."

"Lucky you."

They smirked at each other. "Hi." She said.

"Hi." He replied.

Then they were kissing. They kissed like they were remembering how. Aurelia swung herself over and deposited herself on Chazz's lap, keeping the kisses coming. She could feel her season approaching now. It was less obvious than the first time but she could still feel it coming. Her first season had set her insides to boiling but this one was approaching more slowly. She was so relived at that. Wait…

"Aster." She said suddenly.

Chazz continued nibbling down her neck. "Think about Aster later, Chazz now." He said.

"No, it's Aster's first season this week. I need to see if he's alright." She said and tried to get out of Chazz's hold.

"Aurelia, Aster's probably asleep right now. It can wait until morning, then you can go and see how he's doing." He kissed her collarbone. "Even though you promised me a whole day in bed."

Aurelia sighed. "Alright. I'll talk to him tomorrow." She flicked his forehead. "And we'll have a whole week to ourselves with my season, don't get petulant."

"I love you." He smiled up at her.

She snorted and smiled. "I love you too, you ridiculous man."

Chazz rolled them over and settled between her legs. "No more thinking tonight okay?"

"Make me lose my mind and I won't."

He proceeded to do just that.

The next day, Aurelia wandered around the campus looking for Axel. She knew Aster would be on his yacht and cloistered away this close to their season and she needed to ask a favour of Axel.

She found him hanging from a tree on one of the cliffs by his grappling device and paused. Her brow rose as she regarded him.

"Taking this a bit too far don't you think?" she said.

Axel's eyes opened and sought hers. "A good soldier must be prepared for anything."

"Including hanging upside down from your own grappling hook?"

"Yes ma'am."

Aurelia stared at him before shaking her head. "I need to ask you a favour."

Axel swung himself before flipping up and landing on the cliff. He slipped the noose off of his foot before regarding her. "What did you need?"

Aurelia motioned for him to follow her. "Come this way. I'll explain when we get there." She said.

Axel retrieved his grappling hook before following her down to the docks. Aster's yacht was the only thing currently docked there. Aurelia walked down the dock, wincing internally at how close she was to the ocean before reminding herself that she was doing this for Aster. Axel followed sedately behind her.

When she climbed aboard the yacht, Axel paused. "Isn't this Aster Phoenix's yacht?"

"He's my best friend and the reason I called you here. Come on."

Axel's eyes narrowed before he climbed aboard as well. Aurelia walked into the cabin and held the door for Axel before shutting it behind them.

"Okay." She said as she turned back to Axel. "This is going to be a rather odd request, but I need you to guard this boat for a week."

"Are you expecting someone to steal it?"

Aurelia winced. "Not exactly." She said.

"She wants you to make sure no one comes aboard and accidentally wakes me up." Aster said as he emerged from the master bedroom.

He looked worse for wear. He had discarded his customary suit and was only in shorts and a t-shirt, both of which were disheveled. His hair looked like he'd been running his fingers through it many times and his eyes were glazed. She could feel the heat radiating off him from where she stood.

Axel seemed to come to the same conclusion. "You don't look so good Phoenix."

"Thank you for that astute observation." Aster replied.

Aurelia came to his side and felt his forehead. He was burning up already but, then again, that was relatively normal for a first heat. "Do you have a thermometer?" she asked him.

Aster shrugged behind him. "In the room. I already took my temp and I'm at 100 already."

Aurelia sighed and swept his sweaty bangs off of his forehead. "Alright." She said. She turned to Axel. "You're going to be looking after Aster for the week but no one can know that, do you understand?"

Axel regarded both of them before looking straight into her eyes. "You aren't human are you?"

Aster and Aurelia glanced at each other before looking back at him. "No." Aurelia replied.

"Aurelia!"

"Aster, he's here to help us and I trust him." She said to him. She turned back to Aster. "We're not human and this is normal for us. Aster's going to go into hibernation for the week under the cover story that he's taking a vacation for a while. No one can know that he's here."

Axel nodded. "Why am I here though? Why can't you guard him?"

"Because I'll be undergoing the same thing, relatively speaking."

Aster snorted.

Aurelia glared at him before turning back to Axel. "This will be my second time so I'll be fine, but it's Aster's first so his body isn't quite used to it yet. He'll be asleep in the master bedroom but the rest of the boat will be yours to use for the week. If you accept this mission."

Axel glanced at Aster before looking back at her. "I accept."

Aurelia sighed in relief. "Okay, there are a few things you need to know." Aster snorted and walked back into his room. "Ignore him. He's running a fever, but that's normal. Check his temperature every day for the whole week, he'll be in a deep sleep so you won't bother him. If his fever gets past 103 then you need to contact Dr. Mathias Shaw. He works at the medical centre on the island and he specialises in…this." She handed him a slip of paper. "Here's his number. Make sure no one wanders onto the boat and sees Aster." She grabbed Axel's arm and started steering him back to the door.

"And this is normal for you guys?" Axel asked.

"Yeah, it's an annual thing. The first time's the worst but after that it gets better." She said. She glanced back inside but Aster had secluded himself in the bedroom again. "One more thing; if he does happen to wake up, don't try to subdue him."

"What?"

Aurelia leaned close to Axel's ear. "If he wakes up, you run. Do you understand me? You run, you find Zane Truesdale and you get him off of this island. Are we clear?" she whispered.

Axel stared at her before nodding. "Crystal ma'am."

Aurelia backed away and sighed. "One day, I'll explain this whole thing to you. This is also me owing you a favour for this. Name it and it's yours."

"Yes ma'am."

Aurelia glanced around. "There's food in the fridge and some sort of kitchen on board, I'm sure. I've never really been on here much. He won't go into hibernation until tomorrow so if he's up and wandering around, don't worry about it. Just keep an eye on him, please. He's my best friend and I worry about him."

Axel nodded. "You won't have to worry."

"I always worry." She smirked. Aurelia turned to leave but stopped just past the door. "Axel, thank you."

Aurelia walked away from the yacht feeling lighter. Axel would look after Aster for this season. It would be worse for Aster than it was for her. She had had some semblance of intimacy with her mate before her first season, but Aster…well he and Zane weren't exactly close. She sighed; hopefully this would run smoothly and they wouldn't have to worry about it again until next year. Hopefully by then Aster will have made some advances in his relationship with Zane.

And that's the conclusion of the first incident of dimension-hopping. Review please!