What Comes Next
Summary: Just my take on what happened after "The End of Olympus". Pegasus one-shot.
Disclaimer: My story. Not my characters.
Looking around at the lush jungle, knowing that this would soon be her new home, Emily couldn't have been happier.
"Take us to Titus, Pegs!"
Pegasus whinnied and entered into a gallop. He leaped gracefully into the air. "Then Titus it shall be!"
...
As she traveled in the Solar Stream, Emily so wanted to talk to Pegasus about everything. But conversation was not possible here. So, Emily thought over everything that had happened recently. They had all almost died so many times. First it was the CRU when Cupid, Arious Minor, Pegasus and Emily had gone to rescue Stella, Agent B, Earl and Frankie. Then, it was the mutant Titans, almost swallowing her and gaining power to rise from their pit. Then, it was the mutants again, absorbing all the life on Olympus. Then, she had almost been destroyed when she had gotten the Big Three to turn the Solar Stream on Olympus.
And then, there was Lorin. The girl had given herself up to the mutants to save Paelen. Emily simply could not understand her. Lorin was a Titan herself. She had been a spoiled little girl her whole life, before she had been hit by part of Riza's Flame. Every time she and Emily had crossed paths, Lorin had always yelled at her, wanting Pegasus for her own, not realizing that Pegasus did not belong to anyone. She had also seemed to want Joel, but Emily couldn't bear to think how that would've played out. Paelen, she had gotten. For that little time of the life left for her, she had been genuinely happy and Emily had spoiled her last days by being mad at her and barely talking to her without arguing. Though Lorin had probably liked it that way. She was the one who started the arguments, after all. But she still felt guilty for ruining Lorin's last days alive.
Then, her thoughts turned to Pegasus. She could hear her Pegs. She could finally understand what he was saying. Thought it would take some time to get used to being called 'pet'. She kind of liked it, though, being Pegasus's pet. She knew that he would always be there for her, no matter what happened. They had an inseparable bond. Now, though, she put all thoughts out of her head, and focused on the moment, enjoying the moment.
When the Solar Stream finally ended and they reached Titus, she appeared in the middle of the public square, where she had earlier, when they had sought help from Saturn.
"Come on, Pegs," said Emily. "Let's find the others." Pegasus nodded his assent, but didn't say anything. They started towards the palace, where Emily supposed Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto would be. She wanted to see her friends and her father first, but she figured the Big Three would be worried. So, they went the way they had been taken during their last visit, rather slowly, noting how everything looked like Olympus and yet so different.
She didn't have a choice on who to see first, though. As soon as the palace came into view, she heard her name being called.
"Emily!" Her father came running towards her, relief clear in his face. "Pegasus! We were so worried! It's been almost two days! Where were you?"
"Ow, Dad, you're squeezing me," said Emily. Before she could explain, however, Diana, Paelen and Joel came running towards her, too.
"Em!" cried Joel as soon as he saw her. "Where have you been?"
"Emily, dear," said Diana, hugging her. "You are safe. We were all very worried. Pegasus, are you two alright?"
"Of course she is fine," said Pegasus. "I was with her. I would not have let anything happen to Emily. And I am also fine." Of course, only Diana and Paelen would understand him.
"Yeah, Dad, I'm fine," said Emily, smiling at Pegasus. "I was in Xanadu. I was unconscious for a while after I held the mutants in place, and soon after I regained consciousness, I traveled the Solar Stream with Pegs and got here." No need to tell them she had meant to sacrifice herself. That would only make them panic, and earn her a scolding.
"But, it only takes you a second to travel through the Solar Stream," said Paelen, also hugging her.
"I believe she wanted to savour the moment," came Riza's voice. "Right, Emily?"
"Riza!" said Emily. "Good to see you. Guess what? I can understand Pegasus now."
"What?!" cried four voices. Riza didn't seem surprised. "Of course," she said. "You can understand every language now that you are Xan."
"You are Xan now?" asked her father, looking at her in... awe? She didn't want that. She hastened to explain.
"Yeah, Dad." Emily explained everything with some help from Pegasus. "I was surprised and a little confused when I heard Pegs' voice, though."
"Why," asked Joel and Pegasus at the same time. Emily grinned slyly at Pegasus before answering.
"Oh, I just expected it to be a bit more horsey," she teased.
"Horsey?!" Pegasus protested loudly at that. Emily laughed.
"Come, now," said Riza, also laughing lightly. "We must tell everyone that you are safe. Of course, I told them that already, but they did not seem to believe me."
"Well, we were all worried," protested Joel.
When they entered the throne room, Emily noticed the recent change immediately. There were three main thrones instead of one, where the Big Three were sitting. Close to them, on their right hand side, sat Saturn on his own throne. She recalled what Yird had told her about this. Jupiter now ruled Titus and Saturn was his closest advisor. She smiled at them.
"Emily child," said Jupiter immediately, rushing forward with his brothers to greet her. "You are fine, are you not? And Pegasus. Why did it take you so long to come back?"
When Emily had explained everything again, Saturn said, "Well, I must say, I am impressed. Yird must have seen great potential in you to give all his powers to you."
"Of course Emily has the potential," whinnied Pegasus. "Why would she not?"
"Pegasus, brother!" This time it was a voice very like Pegasus's, but a little different. Chrysaor. "Flame! You are both safe."
After another round of greetings, Emily sat down to eat something. It had been a long day, two long days, and she was hungry. After eating some ambrosia cakes, some nectar and some chocolate ice cream, Emily went to see Alexis and Tom. Jupiter told her that they lived in the cave that was identical to the one on Olympus, as no one had inhabited it yet on Titus. When she reached there with Pegasus, she saw Tom outside, relaxing. He looked up when they landed on the ground, and rose.
"Hello, Emily," he said, sitting up. "Where have you been the last two days? We were worried, you know."
"Hey, Tom," answered Emily. "I woke up in the Temple of Arious at Xanadu. After holding the mutant Titans in place. Then, Pegs and I travelled the Solar Stream and got here about an hour ago."
"Emily!" Alexis came outside their cave. "Pegasus! Nice of you to show up at last! I want you here for babysitting."
Emily laughed. "Sure, Alexis, if Riza gives me a break in my Xan responsibilities."
"Xan responsibilities?" asked Tom. "We haven't heard anything about that. Explain."
Emily sighed, and Pegasus, understanding that she was tired of explaining everything, told them the story. She gave him a grateful look.
"Well, I suppose I will have to ask Joel and Paelen to babysit, then," said Alexis. "You should not ask for a break when you have not even started. Do not worry, I understand."
Emily smiled. "Of course. Thank you, Alexis."
That night, Emily and Pegasus went to their private lake in Titus. They walked to the edge, and Emily sat down, dangling her legs over the water.
"It looks so much like Olympus," she said. "I miss that place."
"You will get used to it, my pet," said Pegaus. "Just like you will get used to not visiting Earth."
"Oh, yeah," said Emily. "There's that, too. Of course I'll get used to it. Titus looks very like Olympus, so I'll not miss it much. It will take some time, though."
"It is good to be here when that pretender is not," he said after a small pause. "I cannot stand him or the others."
"Oh, Pegs," chuckled Emily. "You needn't be jealous of Tornado Warning, you know. It isn't his fault that he was created. You know you'll always be my best friend."
"Of course I Know that, Emily. But I cannot help it. I get angry and out of control when I see him."
"Well, I'll be there to help you. Don't worry about him. I was mad, too, when I saw Lorin at our lake on Olympus. Now I feel guilty that I ruined her time. But let's not think about it now."
And they remained quiet and enjoyed the peaceful silence.
After a few days on Titus, Emily said a temporary goodbye to her friends and set off to Xanadu. Pegasus didn't want her to leave without him, but Emily had to. She arrived at the Temple of Arious.
"Hey, Arious Major and Arious Minor."
"Hello, Emily," they chorused. "Riza was looking for you. She is on Rhean." Arious Minor added.
"Yeah, I was about to go there," said Emily. "I just wanted to see Brue one time. She must be lonely."
Brue welcomed her with a lot of licks. She could now understand Brue too.
"I miss Paelen. When will he come back?"
"I don't know, Brue, but soon," said Emily. "The others will all visit from time to time. I'll be living here, you know, with Riza. So you won't be lonely anymore."
After spending a few minutes with the Mother, she set off to Rhean to help the species there. She didn't know how to get there, though. Anything is possible for the Xan. She concentrated on the planet from her memory, and willed herself to transport there. Suddenly, she felt a whooshing sound and when she opened her eyes, she was on Rhean.
She searched for Riza. It wasn't hard. She could hear Riza easily. Riza was speaking the language the Rheans spoke, but Emily could understand it pretty well.
"Now, do not panic. Just come in groups of thirty, and I will transport you to Xanadu. These layers of breathable air are only temporary, you know. Arious says it will only last for about seven more hours. We need to evacuate before that."
Emily reached Riza and waved. Riza looked over and her face brightened.
"Emily," she greeted her with a hug. "You are here to help. It will be a lot easier with two Xan."
"But can't you just transport them all to Xanadu, like you transported the Olympians to Titus?" asked Emily.
"No," Riza replied, pulling a face. "Olympus was an independent world, so it was easy. But Rhean is dependent on the temporary changes that Arious did to keep the inhabitants alive, so it is not impossible, but very hard, and I do not think I am capable of it so soon after I lost control."
"Oh," said Emily. "I see. Okay then, what should I do?"
"When a group comes forward to be transported, just concentrate and imagine those people in Xanadu, preferably in the Temple of Arious. Then we will combine our powers and will it to happen. That is all for now. After that, we will combine this planet and Xanadu to make more space for the Rheans. Also, they will be more comfortable if something there looks like their old home."
"True."
Riza proceeded to call the Rheans in, fifty at a time, as it was easy to transport many more with help. And Emily was glad to help. She felt like she was doing what she had dreamed of since the beginning. She had felt so content when she was helping these people before, she knew that this was her dream the whole time. To help people.
And she was very glad she finally realised it and embraced her metamorphosis.
With that thought, she turned to help Riza in transporting the Rheans to Xanadu, sanctuary to all. Her sanctuary, too. Her new home.
Emily was very happy. It had been five years since she had become Xan and she was enjoying every moment of it. Since then, she and Riza had saved inhabitants from about eight dying worlds, and discovered one new world that had just started to exist. It was all delightful.
Stella and Agent B had also taken residence at Xanadu, and did everything they could to help. They had helped the inhabitants evacuate in all the dying worlds, helped them feel at home when they arrived at Xanadu, and after the thousands of years of neglect, as Xanadu had become wild, they also helped to tame the world. Stella would make new things that she learnt from Vulcan, so she spent time both on Olympus and on Xanadu. Overall, it was their dream job. Riza also invited everyone who wished to help to stay in Xanadu, temporary or permanent, so there were always people to take care of the creatures, though they had survived for so long without any care. It was all wonderful. Emily loved every minute of it.
With the occasional visit to Titus, she felt ecstatic to be living on Xanadu. She had explored almost all the places there, and had found delightful flowers, trees, insects and all sorts of creatures that she befriended immediately.
"I am so happy there," she sighed for the fourth time. "It is all so peaceful. And so satisfactory."
"That is what you were born to do, Emily," answered Joel. "I have realised that over and over again in the past years. As long as you are happy." He smiled.
"You two have started talking like us Olympians now, after staying here for so long," said Pegasus, nuzzling Emily's hand for some chocolate. Emily never missed a chance to be with him whenever she visited Titus. Of course, the others visited Xanadu from time to time, too, but she always missed Pegasus the most, even more so than Joel or her father.
"It has been a while since we have visited Earth. I sometimes wonder what happened to those humans that captured us," said Diana.
"The CRU," remembered Paelen. "I had forgotten all about those puny little humans. Beasts."
"Do not speak like that, Paelen," chided Riza, who had decided to take a small break with Emily. "They, too, can make mistakes and learn from them. And the CRU is no more. I have checked."
"Really?" asked Emily's father. "Well, it is not surprising, after five years, but I also had forgotten all about it. Now that I come to think of it, it probably would have fallen to ruins without the mutants to keep everything in order."
"I suppose so," said Emily. "But let us not ruin our time by talking about something that we do not like."
They sat in silence for some more time, and then Emily took off with Pegasus for some time alone with the stallion. Soaring the skies, she could not help but remember the times like these in Olympus. Now, they brought her joy rather than tears, to remember her old home. And now, she felt content, knowing there was an eternity of happiness waiting for her and everyone else. And it would not have an end, as far as she knew.
It was her Happily Ever After.
Love it? Hate it? Review and tell me.