Autumn sat on the beach and smiled up at the dazzling stars in the night sky. Her long red hair pulled into a loose braid behind her as the wind moved and her long loose dark blue dress. She pulled her knees to her chest and smiled as she watched stars shoot across the sky.

"Mind if I join you?" a familiar voice said behind her.

Autumn looked up and smiled. "Of course Lin Chung!"

Lin Chung sat next to his girlfriend and wrapped his arm around his girlfriend and smiled. Instead of his normal outfit, he wore a long black and light purple regal-looking kimono. His silvery hair moved with wind as the two snuggled close together and watched the sky.

Autumn laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes. "I love you, my Panther Prince."

"I love you too my Moon Flower." A new voice said, causing Autumn to look up.

Instead of Lin Chung, Tàiyáng sat next to her in a red and gold kimono.

"Tàiyáng what are you doing here?" Autumn said pulling away and standing up.

The prince stood up. "You're so close to finding the truth, you just need to wake up."

"What are you talking about?" she said.

He continued to repeat the sentence over and over.

Wake up

Wake up

AUTUMN WAKE UP!

Autumn shot up in bed and bonked her head on Tempest's head.

"YOW! Tempest, what the heck?" Autumn yelped as she rubbed her head.

The coyote jumped off her bed and smiled mischievously. "There's a meeting in the squad room, everyone's waiting for you!"

Autumn groaned, laying back down and covering her head with her pillow. "Five more minutes…"

The spirit pulled the covers off her and pulled her out of bed by her pant leg, causing the young woman to yelp once she hit the floor. He then went over to her closet and pulled out a green shirt and black pants along with her boots.

"Get dressed and hurry up!" He said before leaving her alone in her room.

Autumn sighed and got up. Picking up her clothes she poked her head behind the curtain that divided her half of her room from Lin Chung's. Luckily her panther hybrid boyfriend was nowhere to be seen. Sighing in relief she got dressed.

Since the Halloween incident, Lin Chung had been more open with her and the rest of first squad about who he was and his past. While she had been mad at the time, she had forgiven him. They had been through so much together that she wasn't going to get upset about something like this. She had her skeletons and secrets and he had his. Simple as that.

Something that wasn't so secret was Autumn was a little happier with her appearance and had even begun eating with her friends again. Although she did continue to eat with second squad every other night. It wasn't because she was ashamed of herself, it was because she enjoyed their company. Sheep Queen and Peacock Queen had also given her new clothes since nothing she had fit her anymore (She was worried she would have to throw away her beloved Pikachu shirt, but with Sonia's help she was able to turn it into a pillow).

Autumn smiled at herself in the mirror. "I am my own person, and no one can take that from me." She proudly declared.

Autumn smiled at herself and went to the Squad room. She went to say good morning to Snake King, Dog Queen, and Raven Queen but they weren't in their rooms. She popped her head into the Second Squad room to say good morning, but no one was there either. Charging Bull and Tiger Lilly were both gone as well. Frowning she went to the squad room.

"Hey have you guys seen-"

"SURPRISE!" Her friends yelled as she stepped into the room.

Autumn yelped and fell on her butt in surprise. The squad room had been decorated with streamers and balloons with a big banner that read "Happy Birthday Autumn" in Chinese. In the corner was a modest pile of presents wrapped in colorful paper. On the table were lots of food and (including Autumn's favorite food: Pancakes) and mostly everyone was wearing party hats (minus Lin Chung who wore his usual helmet/hat thing).

Said panther hybrid helped her up off the floor. Today he was in his hybrid form and instead of his normal clothes he wore a purple version of his normal shirt with black cuffs.

"Happy Birthday my moon." He said pulling her into a hug.

"Thank you, kitty," Autumn said smiling and kissed his nose.

Mighty Ray gagged at the couple. "Hey enough with the mushy goo-goo eyes stuff. Let's party!"

Autumn giggled and held her boyfriend's hand. "Alright," Autumn said.

Towards the end of the party, Lin Chung snuck out outside. Sighing, he sat on the docks deep in thought. Last night he had a strange dream that just didn't sit right with him.

Flash Back…

Lin Chung ran through the woods as fast as he could, his heart pounding in his chest. As he ran his legs got shorter and soon he was about seven years old.

"Mama! Bàba! Please help me!" He yelled with tears streaming down his face. "Please someone help me! I'm scared!"

Suddenly it began to rain and the next thing he knew he was wrapped in the tight grip of a large snake with bright yellow eyes.

"Human children are ssssuch easy prey..." the snake hissed and it tightened its hold on the young Lin Chung.

Lin Chung cried out again for his parents but no one came. He was all alone. Looking up at the snake with tears running down his face. "Please don't hurt me!" he cried.

"Itssssss too late for that Young Ssssssun." The snake said and lunged at him.

End of Flashback

After that, he woke up in a cold sweat with his heart pounding in his chest. The dream had been the same as the vision from the eye of Phobos. What did it mean?

"Lin Chung? Is something wrong?" Jilipa said coming over to him.

"Huh? Oh, hey Jilipa," Lin Chung looking up at the older woman. "I'm fine, I just have a lot on my mind."

"I don't suppose one of those things is asking a certain redhead a very important question, is it?" She asked as she sat down next to him.

Lin Chung blushed brightly as he pulled out a small blue bag from his pocket. Inside was an ornately made silver bracelet embedded with a large amethyst and topaz. Inscribed on the inside was 'Forever and Always my love shall be true' in Chinese characters.

"Are you sure this is the best time to ask her? I mean she's still traumatized after what happened with Wu Fan, what if I just make it worse?" He asks. "Or what if she says no?"

The older woman smiled softly and said, "If Autumn really loves you and you really love her then there's no way she'll say no."

Lin Chung nodded and stood up. "Thank you Jilpa." He said before heading back to the party.

When he came back he found Autumn in the middle of opening her presents. From Dog and Snake King she had received a set of throwing knives, from Sonia, Tiger Lilly, and Alpha girl she received a silk scarf with camouflaging capabilities, Jumpy and Tempest had managed to scrounge up enough money between the two of them to get Autumn a new backpack and Raven Queen, Sheep Queen, and Peacock queen had made her a doll that looked like Lin Chung. Said birthday girl was in the middle of opening Mr. No-Hands and Mighty Ray's gift (a pair of fingerless gloves) when he entered the room.

"There you are Lin Chung," Sonia said. "Where were you? We were getting worried."

Sonia, like Autumn, had gone through some changes in the past few months, with one of them being that Yaksha no longer resided on her head, rather wrapping around her waist. Once short bobbed hair now reached her shoulders as it was now held back with two Yaksha-shaped pins that Autumn had given her for her birthday. She had also retired her gray dress and red leggings for a light green version with black leggings.

"Sorry I worried you, Sonia," Lin said. "I just needed a moment to steady myself."

Sonia nodded. "Hey, don't worry. She'll say yes." She said.

Lin Chung nodded and went over to Autumn. She looked up from her latest present (a new paint set) as Lin Chung got down on one knee and took the pouch out of his pocket. The room got quiet as everyone's attention was now on the young couple. Autumn's eyes started tearing up when she realized what was going on.

"Autumn Lilly Moon, from the first day I met you I knew you were something special. You are my light, my one true love, and best friend. We've been through so much together and been on so many adventures, and many more to come. I don't want anything to separate us, so Autumn," he said as he took out the bracelet.

"Will you marry me?"