Chapter 9: Lystone's Secret

In Perim, near the Plural Forest, the OverWorlder butterfly, Lystone, was flying for her home tree, carrying a bundle in her arms. She flew straight to her house and walked through the front door. The bundle started to moan. "Aw, there, there, my darling. We'll have you take a nice nap after that long flight." She said to the bundle. She set the bundle into a crib. "I just know one day you will help others make a difference in Perim in the future. For both us Creatures and Chaotic players." In the crib, laid a little baby, rather human looking with unnatural lime green hair.

(Intro)

Another day in Chaotic. Minnie was battling at Battle Drome Oron against a player called HangMan10. She still had 2 Creatures, Magmon and Banshor, while HangMan10 only had Ubliqun. Minnie was attacking with Banshor at the Igslo Lighthouse. Minnie was blasted into a wall as Ubliqun walked right up to her, holding a Pyro Blaster. "Sorry, UnderQueen. Looks like this battle goes to me." Ubliqun gloated. Banshor struggled a bit. 'Man, Ubliqun is strong, but I still have a Mugic that can turn the tide.' Minnie thought, activating her last UnderWorld Mugic. "Roar of the Mob!" The Mugic played in key as a dark blue light beamed on Ubliqun, dealing damage until finally, he burst into code.

After winning her match, Minnie joined Robbie and Sidney at their table. "That awesome match, Minnie." Sidney said. "I just do what I do best when I play any player." Minnie said. "Oh, come on. Don't be like that." Sidney said. They both noticed Robbie looking around the Port Court. "Something wrong, Robbie?" Sidney asked. "It's this guy I know, Billy. His screenname's BlitzBilly36. We were supposed to meet up to go on a scan quest today, but he never showed." Robbie explained. "Maybe he just called in sick." Minnie guessed. "No way. He would've told me if he was sick. Something's wrong." Robbie said. Suddenly, Sidney got a call on her scanner. She answered to reveal Tom. "Dad! What is it?" She asked. "Got a call from CodeMaster Crellen. He and Maxxor want me to investigate Pouril Forest. The OverWorlder, Lystone, was seen flying into her house with something in her arms. I need you and your friends to port to the forest to help me investigate." Tom explained. "We're on our way, Dad." Sidney said, ending the call. She turned to Minnie and Robbie, who nodded. She nodded back.

The 3 ported to Pouril Forest. "Now then, let's find my dad, then go find Lystone." Sidney said. "Sid!" A voice called. Sidney turned to see her father emerge from some trees. "Well, that was fast." Robbie joked. Sidney hustled over and hugged her dad. "Hi Daddy." She said. "Hey Sidney." Tom said, breaking the hug. "Hey Minnie, Robbie." He said, noticing Minnie and Robbie. "Hi Tom." "What's up, Mr. Majors?" They said. "Okay, Maxxor told me that Lystone lives in a Coral Pine tree about 7 miles that way." Tom explained.

The 4 treaded deep into the forest. "Okay, the forest has a very big Venus Flytrap garden somewhere around here. So, be careful." Tom explained. That caused Robbie to cringe to a stop. "Venus Flytraps?!" He asked in fear. Everyone stopped to look at him. "Wait, you're afraid of Venus Flytraps?" Minnie asked. "Let's just say I had a bad experience with an experimental flytrap when I was 8. Left me scarred for life." Robbie explained. "Oh yeah. Very bad." Sidney said, remembering that experience. "Truly not the best of days." Tom added. As they continued on, a silhouette emerged from behind a tree.

They continued on until they came across the very tree they were looking for. "Lystone lives just up there." Tom said, pointing to a moss-built house on one of the big branches. "Wonder how long it took to build that way up there." Minnie said, scratching her head. "About a week." Tom said. "How'd you know?" Minnie asked. "I asked." Tom answered. The 3 teens just looked at each other.

Tom walked up to the tree. "Hey, Lystone! You up there?" He called. Lystone stuck her head out the window and looked down. "Tom Majors! Is that you?" She asked. "What's up?" Tom greeted. "Hold on! I'll be right down!" Lystone said, ducking back inside. "She seems nice." Sidney said. "Oh, she is. At least until she was controlled by the M'arrillians." Tom said. "Oh yeah, you told me about that." Sidney said. a few seconds later, Lystone flew right down. "Hey Tom." She said, hugging her friend. "Good to see you, Lystone." Tom said, hugging back. Lystone noticed the teens as they pulled apart. "And who're your friends?" She asked. "This is my daughter, Sidney, and her friends, Minnie and Robbie." Tom introduced. "Nice to meet you." Sidney said, holding out her hand. "You too." Lystone said, shaking it. "So, what're you guys doing out here?" She asked. "Maxxor sent us. He said you had something in your arms when you flew over here." Tom explained. Lystone sighed sadly. "Figured they would have to find out eventually." She said. Tom and the teens were confused. "Come inside. I'll show you." Lystone said.

Lystone brought her guests into her house. Minnie looked around. "Nice place." She muttered. Lystone brought out the bundle from the other room. "Tom, Sidney, Minnie, Robbie, this is Serephia, my daughter." She introduced, pulling the blanket off the child's head and revealing her face. The girls looked at her with big smiles, almost about to cry. "So, this is what you were keeping?" Tom asked. Lystone nodded. "When did this happen?" "About 11 months ago." Lystone started to explain.

[Flashback]

Lystone was collecting moss in a handmade basket. "I was out gathering clumps of moss near the river for my house, when all of a sudden, I heard a twig snap nearby." She jolted her head upon hearing a noise. She picked up her Coral Staff and aimed it at the nearby bushes. Then out came a human boy. "That boy. He was the most handsome thing I've ever seen. He even thought I was beautiful. It didn't take long for our relationship to progress." They were warming up by the fire in Lystone's house. After a while of looking at each other romantically, then leaned in and kissed. The kiss grew passionate and soon Lystone pulled the boy on top of her.

[Flashback End]

"The boy continued to visit me every day. Even after he gave me the greatest gift any woman could want." Lystone continued, looking down at her daughter. "Your daughter." Tom guessed. Lystone nodded. "Oh my god!" Sidney said in shock. "This changes everything! Lystone has given birth to the first human/Creature hybrid ever in Perim history!" "She's right. This is huge!" Minnie agreed. "Wait." Robbie spoke up. "There's one part she left out. Who is the boy who fathers the child?" He asked. Lystone sighed. "Honey! We have company!" She called into the other room. A young boy around Robbie's age walked in from the bedroom. Robbie immediately recognized the boy. "Billy?!" He asked in shock. "Yes. It's me. I'm the baby's father." Billy said, sitting next to Lystone. Tom, Sidney, Minnie and Robbie were all opened-mouth and wide-eyed in shock.

"Billy, this is why you blew off our scan quests over the weeks? You were taking care of your family?" Robbie asked. Billy nodded in regret. "I felt responsible for my actions. Getting Lystone pregnant was my own fault." He said. "You really love Lystone, don't you?" Sidney asked. "Yes. I've loved Lystone long since before I came to Chaotic. I've fantasized about having a life with her for years." Billy said, taking Lystone's hand. Lystone smiled and cuddled up to Billy's shoulder. "I know I'm a goth, but that is so romantic." Minnie said. "I agree." A voice came. Everyone shot up from their seats to see Maxxor standing at the door. "Maxxor!" Lystone gasped. "Relax Lystone. I'm not here to criticize you." Maxxor said. "Maxxor was following us from outside the forest. As part of our deal with the CodeMasters." Tom explained. "We've decided to bring whatever mystery Lystone was carrying into the light. And now that I've seen what your consequences have led you, I don't think I can punish anyone in love." Maxxor said.

Lystone however didn't feel overjoyed. "Maxxor, I'm afraid I have dishonored my oath to the OverWorlders. As much as I love Billy and my little Serephia, I'm afraid I can't continue my duties to the OverWorld." She said, tearing up. Maxxor just smiled and placed a hand on Lystone's shoulder. "Lystone, just because you now have Serephia in your life, doesn't mean your duties to Perim are no longer needed. I mean, look at me and Intress. We have Verlina and we don't let our duties as parents stop us from doing our duties to Perim." Maxxor assured. "But I conceived Serephia with Billy. A human." Lystone protested. "So?" Maxxor asked. Lystone was confused. "Humans have made life easier in Perim for all the Tribes. And this is no different. Serephia will be the beginning of a new future for Perim." Maxxor said. Now Lystone was very happy with tears of joy. "Thank you, Maxxor!" She said, hugging her leader tightly. Maxxor hugged back while petting her head. Billy gently rocked Serephia as she cooed. "You know, I think things are gonna be okay here." Sidney said, not knowing of what dangers were to come for the Tribes.