Author's Note: Big thanks for Clever helping cowrite this with me, its not related to his story AU Lost Time/Lost and Found btw. This is just a stand alone thing I wanted to do but got stuck so he helped me out, felt he was one of the best people to ask about how to write Kaden. It was a real treat and I'm grateful for the help. If you haven't read any of his stories, give him a look, real creative person and deserve some more kudos and love. Without further adeu, hope you like and leave a comment if you enjoy, I'm always welcome to feedback as well.

Kaden couldn't remember the last time he'd gotten a proper night's rest since... it began. Every waking hour he felt the anxiety tear through his flesh and bone, seep into the very blood of his veins until everything felt like a cold desert night that never ended. Time was running out. It wasn't a person, nor a voice, nor an omen from the horoscopes on info-tabloids that told him that, but rather something. The sky was blue above him and yet the world may as well have been ending.

It was hard enough feeling the weights of thousands on his back. Just how realistic—or rather, naive—was the hope that it could be to make it so they could all somehow get out of this alive? The lightest weight of them was somehow also the heaviest of them however and it was cradled in the safe haven of his arms.

Eyes the same shade of green gazed innocently up at Kaden in wide-eyed wonderment that only a child ever could have. His little son was cocooned in his arms, one of the few spots the elder Lombax ever felt were secure for him.

Even then…

Curling his arms tighter around his boy, he could barely bite back his budding resentment over the situation.

A father's protection isn't enough.

The soft texture of Kipler's nose rubbed against his cheek, causing Kaden to close his eyes with a heavy sigh. He ran his fingers through his son's short fuzzy fur, hearing the comforting rumble of his content purring.

Kaden smiled in a sardonic way to himself. He envied how blissfully unaware of the future Kipler was. But he also feared it, not knowing for certain what the future would hold for him.. Ultimately, it was a future with his child, or without…

Don't think like that.

Shaking the listless thoughts out of his head, Kaden reorganized his focus onto his son. Pessimism wasn't going to get him anywhere..

This was Kipler . Things will work out in the end. They will be together, and Tachyon wouldn't get far into his suspicious endeavors before he could enact the plan.

He mentally thanked his lucky stars for Mags while the opposite he cursed and seethed at another…

"Kaden," a deep voice greeted him.

Kaden lifted his face away from the softness of his little boy. There standing before him dressed in uniform was the other source of his headache. "I apologize for coming unannounced, however… I was hoping we could talk."

"The missus finally kicked you from your office, did she now, Alister?" Kaden arched an eyebrow at the white Lombax. His eyes trailed from the hardlines of the general's face towards a small, plush white fur ball swaddled in the curve of one of Alister's large arms.

"Calista needed a break," Alister admitted begrudgingly, shrugging as he idly adjusted the child in his arms. "Rosie has been immensely fussy lately. You know how children go."

As if to prove a point, Rosie reached a little mitten up to try grasping for Alister's dignified looking whiskers. With a fierce face, the little warrior fought against the restraints of her father as Alister extended her at a safe distance. She dangled pitifully in the air, bushy tail lashing and puffed up as she reared up for a fight.

Despite the endearing antics of a rabid infant, the uncertainty of the future left Kaden merely thinking:

Pity.

"She's got spunk," he commented with a little smile, glancing down at his own child. Kipler was currently in the process of trying to shove his entire fist in his mouth.

"And he has…" Alister hung on the word, stretching it out as he stared at Kipler. The boy soon tried his foot next when his fist refused to go in. "Has, uh..." Instead of finishing that thought, the general just cleared his throat, tucking Rosie under one arm so he could press his gloved hand close to his lips to muffle the sound. "Anyway, Kaden—"

"You wanted to talk," Kaden started with a sigh, cutting straight to the point as he deposited Kipler on the ground so the boy could play with the toys scattered about. "So, let's talk."

He stood up from his spot in the sand and scattered parts of dried yellow grass. Brushing off his pants, Kaden crossed his arms afterwards.

Alister mimicked him, placing Rosie next to the boy. Kipler looked interested in the oversized red scarf wrapped around her neck and immediately reached a curious hand towards it.

"New look?" Kaden watched, a slight smirk on his face as Rosie tried fending Kipler off.

"She pestered her mother enough lately for it that she just finally let her have it," Alister remarked, shaking his head. "Cali hasn't much patience for her these days, it's been easier for her to cave than to just keep saying no."

"You say that now, but just wait until Rosie's older." Kaden told him with a light nudge against Alister's ribs. "You'll be eating right out of the palm of her hand too."

"Hey, I'm a General of the Praetorian Guard for a reason, you know." Alister side eyed him with a frown, as if the very thought he could ever bend to the wills of a child was an affront to his character. "I'm trained to have the strongest of wills; no child will ever break me."

Sure, let's just see about that.

But on that note, he had to resist thinking of the shadows that stalked their children once more. One way or another, he feared the broken heart that Kipler could leave him with should things come to pass.

One way or another…

It echoed in between his ears like a threat, malicious and sounding suspiciously like the Cragmite Tachyon in how it cooed with a slimy dripping tongue.

He soon found himself thinking back to that day, that day where he stood in the council meeting room, the figures all around him silhouettes as his gaze was fixated on the small, spindly creature at the head of the table. His ego matched the size of his large head; inflated and massive and Kaden wondered with a low sneer how his neck wouldn't just break in half.

"One way or another, our plans will come to fruition for a better future for us all," Tachyon said with flourish, slamming the end of his pointing stick against the canvas. "No foolish race will ever dare try stepping on Lombax soil again once you allow me access to all this technology."

Kaden heard the voices murmur all around him, some convinced, and others suspicious. He knew Tachyon since he was a young child, he'd even shared a classroom with the Cragmite. They grew up together as children do, ignorant to their differences and not knowing what nature had in store for them.

But ever since Tachyon and others of Kaden's new generation learned the truth, well… it was like something snapped within Tachyon. Kaden wondered distantly what a world where Tachyon had been born a Lombax would have been like, for it unfortunately seemed that evil was but a disease that was deeply ingrained into every Cragmite.

And it killed Kaden. It seemed many were tempted by what Tachyon offered, and yet, he couldn't entirely blame them. They feared another war, as they rightfully should, but Tachyon was extorting that fear against them in order to further whatever undoubtedly nefarious ends he pursued. And to his dismay, that gleam he saw in Alister's golden eyes beside him told him that he was no different than the rest of them in believing his promises.

"I don't trust him, Alister," Kaden warned him in a low tone, ears flat against his head.

"You've always been a little afraid of the future, Kaden." Alister said, sparing him a glance before looking back at Tachyon with intrigue.

"For good reason," he hissed, feeling belittled by what his friend had just said to him. Kaden's eyes narrowed at the Cragmite, his words were practically white noise noise with how much he'd tuned out his nonsense. "Tachyon hasn't been right in the head for years, and you're seriously considering handing classified technological war plans for him to fiddle and play with as he pleases?"

"Our galaxy might be safe for now, but for how long will it stay that way?" Alister cast him a frown, looking disappointed. "It's my job as a General to keep our people safe, just like it's your job as a Keeper to keep the Dimensionator safe, as well. And you know as well as I do that there are sacrifices that must be made in order to uphold our duties. You've already made yours, so I think it's best you leave me to make mine."

"You better not be implying that letting Mags use the Dimensionator to map out dimensions even comes close to the irresponsibility of letting Tachyon get his grubby little mitts on our technology," Kaden replied with a defensive tone, meeting Alister's red eyes.

"Look– What has Tachyon even done to deserve your ire?" Alister inquired, his arms crossed along his broad armor clad chest.

Kaden held his tongue a long moment, knowing it was immensely unfair to just say it was because he was a Cragmite. No, that was not it at all, he once considered Tachyon a childhood playmate and friend just as Alister had. He couldn't deny Tachyon was a prodigy from a young age, and he knew standing in this very council room were his Lombax parents who felt a pride and love for him no other would ever understand.

Tachyon had his supporters and his naysayers, but Kaden couldn't extend the olive branch like Alister wanted to. Kaden breathed out in frustration through his nose, knowing he probably looked a bit animalistic at this moment with how his muzzle curled.

"You remember how he reacted when the Elders told him the truth about what our people did to his kind," He said flatly. "And you've ignored that murderous glint in his eye for far too long."

Alister's golden gaze held disapproval over what Kaden was saying, but if there were some kind of argument or rebuttal he had against that accusation, he didn't bother to voice it, and instead simply pressed his lips in a flat line before turning back to Tachyon. Kaden stared at him, his blood running cold at knowing without confirmation what Alister was going to do.

"The galaxy is still a dangerous place, my friends," Tachyon carried on, Kaden picking up the tail end of his speech. Mechanically, Kaden's head turned to face the head of the room. He swallowed the dry lump in his throat. "You all must think of what's coming before it arrives, a war against the future can only be won with the strongest of preparations!"

And all the while, Alister never once looked away, Kaden's ears laying flat against his skull.

Back in the present, the room evaporated, but still at his side was Alister. And instead of watching Tachyon spout his empty promises and false truths, he instead watched his daughter playing and giggling in the sand, wearing a fond but contemplative look on his face, eyebrows furrowed as he silently stewed in whatever thoughts that prompted him to approach Kaden in the first place..

Kaden waited for Alister to say whatever it was his friend had come to talk to him about. He was distracted, however, when he heard the dismayed cry of his son. Kaden watched as Rosie pushed Kipler over, and couldn't help but be surprised at the strength such a little runty thing such as she could have. She clutched the frayed edges of her scarf in her little clutches, pouting as Kipler once more reached a curious hand out.

Guess it seemed his little guy had inherited a healthy amount of stubbornness, even if in that moment Kaden doubted it was being used wisely. Kipler was still growing into his massive ears that laid flat against his head, the fluffy tassel of his tail seeming to puff up in excitement over this little game he was playing. Kaden smiled, feeling the tension melt from his shoulders a little as—

"Why won't you trust me, Kaden?" Alister's hurt voice cut through his thoughts, prompting him to tear his attention away from their playing children as he met his pained eyes.

Kaden frowned as Alister looked at him expectantly, once again cursing reality at having to come knocking in order to crush whatever blissful feelings of short reprieve he had been feeling at that moment.

Kaden didn't need context for the words, he knew ever since the agreement to let Tachyon use their technology, there'd been a rift forming between them. He distantly realized that it was even physically manifesting right now in the way they both stood, stiff and with arms across their chests, not even attempting to fully face the other, which was in stark contrast to better days when they'd ordinarily stand practically shoulder to shoulder, and perhaps even resting a brotherly arm around the other as they spoke their minds.

But those fond memories of their camaraderie couldn't help but send a pang through him, made worse by that subtly betrayed look in Alister's eyes that spoke more than his words ever could. He hated the fact that he did something so foolish as to allow that Cragmite access to their technology, there was no doubt about it. But he also hated the idea of being enemies with the Lombax he called a brother, too.

"I… do trust you, Alister." Kaden told him sincerely with a small sigh, before he turned his head with a frown, his tone quickly shifting into one that was clipped and curt. "It's him I don't trust."

"Tachyon is—"

"A disaster waiting to happen, Alister."

"You know that's an unfair assumption to make," he replied with a terse voice.

There was tension between them as they stared each other down, Kaden getting a foul sense of deja vu from their argument back in the meeting. He hated being so hard on his friend, but he knew Alister was one of the most stubborn creatures he'd ever met. Once he had his mind set on something, the only way to even dream of making him change it was by having to be as blunt and straightforward about it as possible, even if it felt cold to do so.

"Let me ask you this then," Kaden said with a sigh, shaking his head as he tried to understand. "What has Tachyon even done to earn your trust in him? Help you out on a school project? Invited you to a house party? Give you a well-earned 'good job' whenever you got the answer right in class?" He asked sardonically. "The Tachyon that we knew back when we were kids is gone, Alister, and you know it."

"No he's not, Kaden." Alister retorted. "I know his reaction to finding out about the rest of the Cragmites wasn't exactly cordial , to say the least, but I can't say I'd behave any better if I was told the same thing. Would you ?" He asked, motioning over to him.

"No. And that's exactly why I don't trust him." He replies pointedly. "If I were him, I'd plot my revenge against the people responsible for my race's extinction, just like he's doing now."

"But why would he do that? He was raised by us, Kaden. We are his family ." Alister argued with a determined flare to the word, emphasizing its importance as he knitted his brows. "Do you seriously think he's going to throw all of that away just because of something that happened years ago? We all know those miners could have crushed that egg on that asteroid the minute they found him, but they didn't. They decided to take him in, and just the fact that we decided to raise him like one of our own is enough to prove that we care about him. We gave him a second chance at life despite everything his species did, so who's to say he won't give us a second chance despite everything we did to the Cragmites?"

"So… that's what you're basing your decision on, then?" Kaden questioned, crossing his arms with a frown. "You're possibly endangering all of us on the gamble that he's a good person and will simply forgive what the Lombaxes did to his people?"

"I am, because it's not a gamble." Alister told him firmly. "We both grew up with him, Kaden. He's led the same life that we have, going to the same schools, eating the same food, laughing at the same jokes. He's practically a Lombax in everything except blood. He has friends, he has a family, and he has a home here on Fastoon. Do you think he's really going to throw all of that away, based on something that happened before we were even born?"

Kaden didn't immediately respond, instead grasping onto his own arms in an apprehensive grip, stewing over his words, but Alister didn't wait for a reply as he continued speaking, albeit in a softer tone.

"And besides, if we just sentence him to a life of ridicule and mistrust solely on the fact that he happens to be a Cragmite, what makes us better than them ?" He added with a gentle expression, no longer feeling the need to get defensive. "I'm doing this because I genuinely believe that Tachyon wants what's best for the Lombaxes. Don't you want that?"

Kaden exhaled a deep, long breath before looking back up to him, where he's expectantly waiting for a response.

"I do, Alister." He assured him, also dropping the accusatory tone he held previously. "You know I do. But… I still can't help but get a bad feeling about him." He said, looking away with a small, uneasy shrug. "The capabilities of what our technology can do in the wrong hands is catastrophic, to say the least. He can end every life in the galaxy if he really wanted to, and we're just going to trust him with that kind of power?"

"We're not trusting him to cause limitless destruction, Kaden." Alister reassured him. "We're trusting him to protect the Lombaxes and our home. His home. Our children's home." He said, looking over while gesturing to Rosie and Kipler, still in the middle of their game of keepaway, Kipler trying but failing to grasp onto her scarf with a giggle as she huffed and pushed his arm away while defensively gripping onto it.

"You're only thinking about all the negatives that might happen if— if we misplaced our trust in Tachyon." Alister told him as they both began to watch their kids, playing in the sand together. "But you have to think about all the positives that come with his promises, too. The galaxy will be ushered into a new era of peace, one where we don't have to walk on eggshells, constantly worrying about what the next threat to us and our people's safety might be. With his help, we won't ever have to worry about repeating something like the Great War ever again. And that's the kind of future that Rosie, and Kipler, and their kids, and their kids will be able to look forward to."

He turned his head to look at Kaden with a sincere, paternal care in his eyes. "I didn't just do it for us , Kaden. I did it for them ."

Kaden looked back at him with a similar expression, his gaze lingering into his eyes before he brought it back to their children, where he sees Kipler get knocked down once more by Rosie before she begins to crawl away as he situates himself back onto his arms and feet.

He tried to picture them as older, more grown Lombaxes, living their own lives with their own dreams and ambitions as he and Alister did now. He'd probably grow up to look just like his father, and she'd likely grow up to look like her mother. Maybe they'd become friends as they grew up, too, or even lovers, if their wives' giggling conversations about the topic were to be believed. They might even have kids of their own someday, watching them play together on a bright and beautiful day such as this, wondering about their futures, and living out a happy life together until their fur lost its color, and their kids had kids of their own.

Or, of course, none of that would happen, if his suspicions about Tachyon actually came to pass.

And that thought terrified him.

He hung his head and gave a deep, resigned sigh, a sound he best thought represented this swirling conflict that rested deep in his stomach right now, almost nauseating in its intensity.

"I want that to be true, Alister. I really do." He replied, picking his head back up to stare at his son as he and Rosie appeared to have come to a small truce in the battle for the scarf, instead opting to bash small toy ships into each other with playful giggles. "But I'm thinking about their future, too, because you know as well as I do that this universe isn't a kind place. We don't live in some kind of fairy tale where someone can just swoop in and fix everything and let us live happily ever after." He said dryly, waving his hand slightly before returning it to his crossed arms with a troubled look. "We live in a cruel universe full of liars, thieves, and murderers, where bad things don't happen to people who deserve it, but instead to people who don't . And I'm trying to keep our children out of the latter."

"But so am I, Kaden." Alister promised him. "There's nothing I want more than for us to sit back and say that we did our jobs as parents, and secured a safe world that our children can grow old in without worrying about getting hurt. And that's something that Tachyon wants, too. He's working towards the same goal as us, you heard him yourself. So, then… why can't you just trust him?"

There was no accusation in his tone, instead asked in a genuine inquisitiveness as he looked back at Kaden with a thoughtful expression, his eyes soft and full of compassion for both his child and his brother-in-arms. In any other situation, it would've been an expression that Kaden would return with a warm smile and a pat on the shoulder, and maybe even a comment about acting too sentimental for a hardened Praetorian General such as him. But instead, he simply returned an uneasy, pensive look as he anxiously gripped onto his own arms tightly.

"I… I don't know." Kaden conceded with a small shake of his head. "You're right, Fastoon is Tachyon's home, too, and we've shown him nothing but care and compassion his entire life, even despite him being a Cragmite. And with someone as bright as him offering all of these amazing ideas and solutions for making Polaris a better, safer place for us all, I should be grateful. But… I'm not." He added with a small shrug. "I just don't trust him. He might be offering us salvation, sure, but at the same time, he might be spelling out our doom, in some kind of attempt to avenge the species he never knew. And with a risk as big as that hanging over our heads, I can't just ignore it and pretend that everything's going to work out just fine." He said sourly.

"But are you certain that everything isn't going to work out fine?" Alister questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, no , but–"

"And neither am I." He stated affably. "All we can do is hope that we made the right decisions, but we never know for sure if it was the right one until we see the end of it." He said, turning back once more to Kipler and Rosie, who were now firmly united in their combined efforts to wreak havoc against the plethora of toys before them, bashing them together with overjoyed laughter. "Do I admit that there's even the smallest chance that what you're saying is right? Yes, of course, I'd be stupid not to think so. But is there also a chance that you're wrong, and that we will live in a safer universe with our children just as he promised? That's what I'm counting on." He finished with a nod.

"But if you are wrong, then this won't be a universe to live in at all . Not for us, and especially not for them." He argued gravely, waving his hand to their children. "If I'm right… there's not going to be a future."

"And I hope for our sake and theirs that won't be the case." He replied. "But until we know for certain once Tachyon does what he needs to, we'll do what we need to do in order to ensure the best future possible for them. I know you don't agree with me when I say that Tachyon is our best bet to make that happen, but I also know that you're also doing your best to try and achieve the same thing as us."

He turned his head towards Kaden, still wearing that hard expression of determination, but easing up slightly to let vulnerability shine through the cracks. "And, well, that's why I came here to talk with you in the first place. I just wanted to assure you that, well… I'm just like you. A father navigating his way through this mess of a universe, trying my best to lay down a path for my child that they can follow without having to go through the same hardships and dangers as me, and being scared with every step that I'm going the wrong way." He said with a small, coy shrug. "But at the very least, I feel less scared than I usually am with this step of deciding to aid Tachyon. The only difference between you and me right now is that this step makes you terrified instead."

Kaden felt him rest his hand onto his shoulder with a firm but assuring grip, and turned his head to find Alister wearing a small but firm smile on his lips. "But I just want you to know that wherever this path will lead us, whoever good or bad it'll turn, I'll be right there by your side, happily skipping along or clumsily stumbling around with you. I promise. Do you?"

Kaden looked into that fierce but comforting determination in his eyes, and to the hand hanging onto his shoulder, not failing to notice that this was the first time they'd made actual contact with each other ever since their argument at the meeting. Whatever wall they had built up between each other with their cold words or plain avoidance of each other has definitely begun to crumble away, and Kaden could feel it for himself as well.

Was he still angry and scared at the notion of his friend allowing a Cragmite nigh-limitless access to their incredibly dangerous technology? Of course he was, and he would likely always feel that way even if Tachyon ended up telling the truth, having small fleeting thoughts of what if the opposite had happened as he and his child live in a newly-peaceful galaxy.

But at the end of the day, that's exactly who Alister was; his friend . A Lombax that he had grown up with for as long he could remember, being there for nearly every moment of his life. From going to their first day of school together, to helping him steal his dad's trillium harvester to sneak out to the Agorians' Battleplex, to tease him at the first inklings of a crush with his would-be wife, and to sharing in his excitement the day Kipler was born. Alister was a brother to him in everything but blood, and to say they've gone through a lot together would be the understatement of the century.

He absolutely believed him when he said he promised to stick with him even if things with Tachyon went south like he feared. He wasn't sure how that would turn out, though, because although he and Alister got in and out of their fair share of sticky situations over the years, the kind of situation with Tachyon that could develop wouldn't be anywhere near like getting chewed out for stealing a harvester and entering a blood sport tournament past their bedtime; it would be an apocalypse .

But then again, that's exactly why he and Mags were working on their backup plan. If it does turn out that way, they will be prepared. And if they're prepared, then there can still be hope that things will work out in the end. And when the dust settles after all is said and done, Kaden truly did hope that Alister would be there with him, even if he would've been the one to cause it in the first place.

And so, for the first time since their conversation began, a smile spread across onto his lips and he reached over to rest his own hand on Alister's shoulder in return.

"I promise, Alister." He told him with a warm nod. "You have my word."

"I'm glad to hear it, Kaden." He replied, with a relieved and contented look washing over his features as he removed his hand, which Kaden shortly follows. "And, don't worry, if Tachyon is lying and I end up being wrong, I give you full permission to rub it in my face that you were right for the rest of my life."

"You don't need to give your permission when it comes to that, you know." Kaden replied amusedly. "I already do that without your formal approval, after all."

"I know, but I was just saying that you can do it all you want without having me seriously debate about giving you a smack to shut you up like I normally have to do." He explained with a smirk.

"Wow, you're offering me the honor of being able to talk to my friend without fear of being assaulted by him? Thanks, Alister, that's the best gift that anyone can ask for." Kaden replied with a chuckle.

And as Alister returned with a small laugh of his own, Kaden began to feel relief that they managed to heal that rift that was forming between them, being able to finally laugh together over some dumb banter even with something such a suffocatingly foreboding sense of uncertainty hanging over their future. But if anything, the fact that they were managing to have a good time even despite that filled him with a reassuring feeling of hope. If they were able to share a moment of happiness and comradery in the face of trepidation, then he didn't doubt that they had what it took to weather whatever storm would come their way.

He is suddenly ripped out of his thoughts, however, as he and Alister suddenly hear the wails of one of their children, and they each snap their heads over to them in an instant with a strong but acute sense of worry. But as they look over, they simply see Kipler crying as Rosie appears to be happily destroying a very poor attempt at a sandcastle that he constructed as they were talking.

"Always the little mischievous one, she is." Alister says amusedly as he shook his head before looking over to Kaden. "I should probably be getting her back home, anyway. It's almost her naptime."

"Really?" Kaden asked incredulously with a raised eyebrow. "You can actually get her to sleep?"

"Well, theoretical naptime, that is." He responded with a shrug and tired smile that Kaden sympathized with all too well. "But it seems like she and Kipler have been playing pretty hard, I'm sure she'll go down easy enough with a few lullabies. Hope so, at least."

"Well, I wish you good luck with that." He replied, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "I'll see you later, Alister. I'm glad we had this talk."

"So am I, Kaden. We'll get through this, no matter how it turns out, I promise." He returned with a firm nod. "See you around, Kaden."

And with one last smile, he then turned and walked over to Rosie, still bashing whatever remnants of Kipler's castle were left with a small toy ship as her preferred tool of destruction, before she noticed Alister walking over to her, and looked to him with curiosity.

"Alright, come on, you little troublemaker." Alister said as he crouched down to pick her up before brushing off the sand off of her clothes. "It's time for us to get back to mommy."

Kaden watches as he begins to walk away, with a fussing Rosie in his arms proclaiming unintelligible protests to the end of her playtime, with Alister vainly attempting to quell her by rocking her in his arms as he assured her she'd feel better after a good nap.

But he only spent a few more moments watching them before he returned his attention back to Kipler, still crying as he sat in the sand. With a small smile, Kaden walked over and sat down in the sand next to him before picking him up and placing him into his arms, also starting to gently rock him as he looked onto his face, his cries already beginning to wane down as he opened his eyes to gaze back up to him.

"Shh, there, there, Kip, everything's going to be just fine." He softly soothed him. "It's okay."

And after only a minute of rocking, Kipler finally calmed down from his mourning of the castle he lost, and as he did, Kaden leaned over slightly to grab a small plush Omniwrench toy, and after brushing the sand off, handed it over to him, to which Kipler began to enthusiastically swing it around in the air with a giggle, but not without a healthy mix of taste-testing as he put it in his mouth with every few swings, prompting a warm chuckle out of Kaden.

"See? It's all okay now." He said to him, but with Kipler giving no notice, being too enthralled in his newly acquired toy.

But Kaden didn't pay much attention, either, as he gazed at his innocent little face, then back up to the blue sky, once again thinking about their future. But this time, with a little less uncertainty as a ghost of a smile rested on his lips.

"It's all going to be just fine."