"Is Milla around?" Lilac asks as the hug breaks.
"She's standing guard outside," Carol confirms.
"Let's bring her in," Lilac decides. "She should be part of the next conversation."
"I think I know what you want to discuss," Carol smiles. "Who's going to tell her about Coral?"
"I think it's better coming from you," Lilac answers. "Want a drink?"
"Sure."
Ten minutes later, Carol is almost finished telling Milla about Coraline Tea while Lilac waits patiently.
"…and hopefully, that explains why I'm so angry with Spade," Carol finishes. "He kept the identity of Coral's killer secret for over three years. Why, I don't know, but I do know I've never felt more betrayed by anyone in my life. Well, apart from Corazon."
Milla is momentarily speechless. "Carol, I… I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to say anything," Carol assures. "All you had to do was listen, and you did that brilliantly. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask."
Milla thinks a moment. "I can't think of anything to ask."
"In that case, I believe Lilac has something she'd like to say," Carol replies, passing control of the conversation over to the dragoness.
"Is something wrong?" Milla asks.
"No," Lilac assures. "But it is something I don't think we can avoid any longer. It's no secret things have become strained over the past few days‑"
"That's an understatement," Carol teases.
"Shush," Lilac replies in kind. "As I was saying, tensions were stretched beyond breaking point, and our team collapsed. I think it's safe to say none of us want to see that happen again. Therefore, I'd like to propose a name change."
"What are you thinking of?" Carol asks.
"'Team Lilac' puts too much emphasis on me as the leader," Lilac admits. "I know it's not a name I chose, and that it was kinda thrust upon us by the media, but I went along with it because it stroked my ego. Unfortunately, that only fed my own arrogance, and… well, we all know where that ended up."
"Given it was me who first coined the name, I feel like it's at least partially my fault," Carol admits.
"No, it's my fault for not making sure it didn't take hold," Lilac assures. "If you remember, I was initially against the name."
"The media attention after we sent Brevon packing changed that though," Carol recalls.
"To my eventual and current regret, yes," Lilac acknowledges. "It may be too late to change how the media portray us, but it's not too late to address the balance between ourselves. It's time we adopted a name that reflects who we are and what we do, not how we are portrayed. Therefore, I propose that we no longer call ourselves 'Team Lilac'. Instead, I propose we call ourselves 'Team Avalice'. That way, the focus is on what we fight for, not who leads the fight. All three of us bring unique skills and abilities, and our best work is achieved when we work as equal team members. Who leads the fight shouldn't be determined by seniority or species; it should be determined by the situation, and who's best suited to dealing with it."
Carol leans towards Milla and jokingly whispers, "I'm not sure this is our Lilac."
"I know," Milla whispers back, playing along with the joke. "What do you think happened to her? Do you think she's been kidnapped?"
"You're right! We must be talking with a clone!" Carol replies, not even trying to hide a cheeky grin.
"Very funny," Lilac sighs in amusement. "Seriously though, what do you think?"
"I think that's an excellent idea," Carol answers.
"And it's got a nicer sound to it," Milla agrees.
"Exactly," Lilac smiles.
"Ooh! Ooh! We should come up with a cool team pose!" Carol suggests, bubbling with excitement.
"That sounds fun!" Milla chimes.
"That sounds unnecessary," Lilac opines.
"Tough: you're outvoted two‑to‑one," Carol teases.
"Of all the times to become a democracy," Lilac sighs in amused resignation.
"Oh, I just remembered: Neera wants to see us all on the bridge," Milla recalls.
"Darn it!" Lilac exclaims humorously. "Oh well, guess we'll have to forget the whole pose thing."
"Oh no, you're not getting off the hook that easily!" Carol responds in kind.
"Worth a shot," Lilac shrugs.
Carol shakes her head in amusement. "Come on, let's go see what Neera wants."
Team Avalice enters the bridge to find everyone assembled and waiting for them: Neera Li, Maria Shanmao, Tai Wong, Danny Brock, Sally Flynn, King Dail, Spade (who avoids eye contact at all costs), and the two latest arrivals, General Gong and, much to the team's surprise and ambivalence, Mayor Zao of Shang Mu.
Neera approaches the team. "I trust issues have been sorted out?"
"There's still some work to do, but we're good to fight," Lilac informs.
"Excellent," Neera smiles. "With Team Lilac restored‑"
"Sorry to interrupt, but we decided not to go by that name anymore," Lilac interrupts.
"Oh? How come?" Neera asks.
"Because if her head got any bigger, it'd be a parade balloon!" Carol quips, causing Lilac to blush slightly.
"We're now Team Avalice!" Milla chimes.
"Good change," Neera approves. "Bet the media won't adopt it though."
"Without wanting to be boastful, I guess my face sells more papers," Lilac admits.
"It's not boastful if it's true," Carol winks.
"It is a little," Lilac corrects.
"Either way, you'll be glad to know the fleets of Shang Tu and Shang Mu are here," Neera informs.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is the first ever time all three Origin Kingdoms have fought united," Lilac guesses.
"I believe so," Neera confirms. "It's a historical moment, that's for sure. Oh, and before I forget: Carol, Mayor Zao has something he wants to show you."
Carol raises an eyebrow. "Do I want to know?" she asks jokingly.
Before Neera can reply, Mayor Zao barges in front of her. "Despite your friend's rudeness three days ago," he begins, addressing Carol while glancing sidelong at Lilac, who turns away in embarrassment, "I have decided to help defeat Corazon," he continues, completely butchering the pronunciation of Carol's sister's name. "As I understand it, the insolent dragonblood has her robot Pingu, and King Dail has lent his robot bird thing to Milla, leaving you with nothing."
"Pangu," Lilac corrects quietly.
"Like I said, Pongo," Zao continues. "Anyway, I have something for Carol. Follow me to the top deck."
Mayor Zao strides out of the bridge with all the arrogant self‑importance he can muster.
"Is it just me, or is he even more insufferable than usual?" Carol asks.
"Just humour him," Neera advises. "It's easier that way."
"Sometimes, I'm amazed by my own brilliance," Mayor Zao boasts as he leads Carol out onto the top deck, Lilac and Milla following a few seconds behind.
Carol bites back a scathing reply just before what she sees takes her breath away. "Whu…?"
"Amazing, isn't it?" Zao beams.
"It's… surprising," Carol admits.
"We recovered the parts from the Snowfields after the war with Braven was over," Zao continues, clearly not paying attention to Carol's unease. "Your rude friend did a very good job of tearing it to pieces, but we rebuilt it under my expert guidance‑" Carol rolls her eyes without Zao noticing "‑reprogrammed it, and now Mayor Zao's Magnificent Crab Flyer is yours to command!"
"With all due respect, I'm not totally comfortable with flying something that once tried to kill us," Carol admits.
"You'd be surprised how quickly you adjust," Lilac assures, her eyes fixed on the machine Zao is donating to Carol. "Remember, the first time I met Pangu, she tried to vaporise me, and now she recognises me as a friend and ally."
"And you can't forget when King Dail attacked us with Kujacker," Milla reminds. "But I'm comfortable flying it, as I know I'm in total control."
"True, but Pangu is dragon tech, and Kujacker is Avalician tech," Carol reminds. "This is Brevon tech."
"Like your teleporter?" Lilac asks cheekily as she subconsciously takes hold of a hair whip.
"Good point," Carol admits. "Guess I'll give it a go."
"Excellent!" Zao beams. "I'll leave you to get acquainted."
As Zao disappears below decks, Carol slowly approaches the Crab Flyer, its previously green‑black chassis now painted in the vivid red and gold of Shang Mu. The two oversized claws flank the spherical main module, fixed in place by a sturdy latticework of painted steel tubing, evidence that the previous 'invisible' connection couldn't be restored.
"Not sure about the paintjob," Carol opines.
"It is a bit conspicuous, I'll admit," Lilac agrees. "But then I'm going to be riding in on a fifty‑foot long glowing hologrammatic dragon with a roar loud enough to wake the dead, so I won't exactly be stealthy," she adds humorously.
"Another good point," Carol admits. "Since Zao didn't leave the manual, want to help me work out how to operate this thing?"
"Sure!" Milla bounds forward to help.
As Lilac is about to move in to help, she notices something out of the corner of her eye. Curious, she locates what appears to be a green speck slowly shrinking as it heads towards the horizon. Is that…?
"Lilac?" You OK?" Carol asks.
"Hm?" Lilac replies, turning to her friend. "Oh, yeah, just… thought I saw… something," she explains, looking back to find the green speck has disappeared.
Carol notices Lilac's hair whips twitching slightly. Now's not the time to tell her. "I'm sure it's nothing," she assures.
"Yeah, you're probably right," Lilac agrees, joining Carol and Milla in exploring the Crab Flyer.