Chapter 136: The Quiet Night Part 2

Gal'drad watched his old friend, who seemed to rot in his cage. Not only that, but he heard a bit of their conversation. He felt guilty for not helping the human.

"Gal'drad." Aval'par said with his hand on the glass.

"It's been a long time my friend," the green M'arrillian replied. He didn't know what else to say.

"You were one of the traitors," the purple M'arrillian said as he gazed to the side. He wasn't mad or angry. He was tired, from what happened during the attack, "With what my tribe is doing… I'm still surprised," he admitted. He took a step back.

"I am glad you aren't with Milla'iin anymore," he turned towards the other cage where the Coralsmith was. He focused on his old friend, "And that I won't have to fight you tomorrow."

"I agree with that. I don't think I have the strength to fight you," Aval'par replied.

"I know you talked with Tom a few times. The other humans gave me a bit of their reports on what he talked with you about."

"Yeah. I can't believe a human would talk to me. He also talked just to talk rather than to get anything out of me. Guess it was because he spoke with Phelphor too."

"Yes. He is a prisoner of the Overworld. Maxxor told me he is treated well as he saved Tom."

"He was the one who freed him then. And I'm the one who didn't do the right thing compared to him."

"What do you mean?"

"I stayed here when they attacked!" He punched the wall, "I didn't do anything. I am faster! I could have been there in time and Tom would still be here. I just didn't want to make a decision. I don't want to betray my tribe! I don't want to let the Cothica be damaged any more. I don't want Tom to get hurt," his hand slid on the glass.

"You sure opened your heart right now," Bahrakatan commented without judgment. He let out a small smile on his face. One that no one could see because of his exoskeleton, "You ended up better than Milla'iin at the end. And you are not alone in being guilty. I could have left jail faster and I would have been there in time. I waited too long to save them."

Gal'drad said, "Even if you both failed Tom, as you believe, you can still make it right. Aval'par, Bahrakatan…you can help us fight against those who believed the lies of Aa'une. We can save Tom and his friend Sarah," he looked at his best friend, "Aval'par. You can make things right. I know you can and I believe in you."

"I… you can't ask me to fight my tribe. There are children with us! Non-warrior M'arrillians too. We all left the Deep Ocean and are here," he gazed down.

"We are not here to fight the young, but those who fight by the side of Milla'iin. Our tribe would leave him behind if he involved the children," Gal'drad replied.

Bahrakatan brought something up, "And if you have to kill Milla'iin? You know he has been manipulated by Aa'une since he was a child. Everything he believes was put into his brain. Like Aval'par, he is caught up in the deception and cannot see the truth. That our tribe is just hungry for power and nothing else. Would you do it if you had no choice?"

The green M'arrillian gazed at the Kha'ralls. He crossed his arms and murmured a few things as he thought deeply about the matter. He wasn't sure if he could do it. Still, he had to take action. His mind was made up a while ago anyway, "Yes. If our tribe can have a future, I will bring him down. If I have to kill him with my own hand and tendril, I will," he declared with conviction. He put his hand on his chest, "I will save the Cothica from Milla'iin and the others. I'll pay the price for it. No matter how heavy it is."

"Those are big words you are saying," Bahrakatan commented. He didn't take those words that seriously. He knew one thing, "You will try to keep it from going that far," he gazed a little to the side, "Still, you will do it if you have no choice."

"He is still a M'arrillian. Milla'iin can still do the right thing," Gal'drad replied.

Aval'par had no words for that decision. He was a warrior for Milla'iin. He didn't know what to say or do. Still, he couldn't change his friend's mind and neither did he want to. He played with his finger nervously. He took a deep breath, "I won't oppose your decision. The Cothica needs to be saved, as does Tom. I'll make up my mind during the night and I'll tell you tomorrow what my intentions are. Once I make them, I won't change my mind."

"Good."

The three M'arrillians continued talking together for a while, before he left.

Theb-Saar walked towards the building where Peyton currently was. By his side, the queen of the Danians went in the same direction. They didn't stay long after they checked if they were okay.

The plan was ready and they could spend more time with the two-remaining guides to the Cothica. They knew the parents would have a lot of questions.

The Mipedian king tried to guess in advance what the conversation might be about with Peyton and his family. He had a few polite words with them, but nothing more. He couldn't find any possible direction their conversation might go, "You are coming for?" He gazed at Aszil.

"I will apologize for what happened to Sarah. I will make my vow to save her no matter what," she replied.

"I would have done the same if they got Peyton," they stopped near the door. He gazed at her, "We will save Sarah. You can count on my tribe to support you."

"Yes. I can believe that," she admitted. If it was Mudeenu or most Mipedians, she would heavily doubt him, "Those two boys better not come with us. Do not let Peyton manipulate you."

"He can try," Theb-Saar chuckled as he let out a small smile. It was time to have an actual conversation with them.

The two creatures noticed that the humans were getting a little tired. They had been stressing out for a while and their energy was low. It was going to be a short conversation, but they didn't mind. Tomorrow, they would be too busy.

"You're back," Peyton declared with a small forceful smile. He tried to look strong and be his happy self despite what had happened.

The blue Mipedian knew that the boy fully grasped the danger of his friends. He had a guess of what he might want to do tomorrow. He gazed at his parents and decided to be subtle, "I hope you aren't thinking of what I'm thinking."

"Thinking about it, but I won't. I know we will only cause more trouble. I hope you will save my friends Theb-Saar," the portly boy declared.

"I will," he put his hand on the shoulder of the boy, "The M'arrillians wandered free to do what they want to this world for too long," he gazed at his parents, "We didn't have the pleasure of a full presentation earlier."

Lucas, Peyton's father nodded, "Yes. We know you are the king of the Mipedians."

"You look kinda like a dragon," Judy noticed without a hint of malice in her voice.

Aszil snickered quietly when she noticed the king of Al-Mipedim frown for a second, before quickly regaining his composure.

"Mom, careful," Peyton warned his mother not to insult the king.

"Look at his f-"

She was thankfully interrupted by her husband, "Nevertheless, you came back to talk about something?"

"Yes. I wanted to present myself to you. As a friend of Peyton, I am interested to know who his parents are," he glanced at the woman who accidentally insulted him. Still, it would have been worse if it was something else other than a dragon. Those they rode were powerful and fierce. He wondered if she thought of him that way.

"I'm sorry for my wife's comment. She tends to speak what's on her mind. The M'arrillians would probably hear what she thinks at the same time it comes out of her mouth," Lucas scratched the back of his head a little nervously.

"I took no offense in her words," Theb-Saar lied. He took some and it was still lingering on his face.

"You can tell us what our Peyton did while he was in Perim. I am curious to see how much trouble my boy caused," Peyton's mother asked.

"I wasn't there for that-"

"And you better not have hurt him," Judy let out a sweet smile, but her aura went the other way, taking anyone who didn't know her that much by surprise, "I wouldn't like to know that someone hurt him."

The blue Mipedian let out a soft chuckle, "I was absent for a while, so you will have to address Mudeenu in the matter."

Elsewhere, Mudeenu suddenly felt chilly for some reason. He felt danger might be lurking in the horizon. He pushed it aside as he shared the battle plan for tomorrow.

Back in the room, Judy let out a small satisfied smile, "I'll ask him before you depart tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Aszil talked with the parents and the brother of Sarah, "Once again, I'll apologize for the capture of your daughter. We couldn't protect her."

Jeff sighed, "We couldn't either."

His wife refrained from crying even more. Their daughter was kidnapped and the only thing they could do was to wait.

The man sighed, "She might have been safe if we stayed home."

His son grunted, "No. Maybe she wouldn't be safe. I mean, they might have come to our home. You know, the butterfly effect."

"Whatever," his father grumbled. He couldn't disagree. No one could see the future.

Aszil gazed at the parents. Her tribe didn't live under a more traditional family, so she couldn't understand their depression that well. Still, she had to tell them a few things, "We will correct the mistake we made. We will save your daughter Sarah tomorrow. We will not fail. The M'arrillians will regret what they did today."

"Good," Jeff nodded.

Alexander asked, "How is Wamma?"

"He's preparing for tomorrow. He is dedicating himself to rescue her no matter what. He will fight harder than most of my tribe," she crossed her two pairs of arms, "And Odu-Bathax is making sure that he focuses his energy on the right thing."

"He's done sulking," the man sighed in relief. He chuckled, "I'll pay Odu-Bathax a visit before you leave," he let out a small teasing smile.

Aszil chuckled. She was aware of the teasing of her soldier.

Pamela approached the Danian queen, "Aszil. Please, save our daughter and her friend Tom. I-" she didn't dare to say how she might feel if anything really bad happened to her child.

"We will not fail you again," the queen replied. She looked into the eyes of the mother, "And neither will we the Cothica."

With that, the two nodded at each other.

Theb-Saar looked around and couldn't see Kaz, "Where is Kaz?"

"He is busy with Chaor," Cassandra replied. She sighed, "Been outside for a while."

"Knowing Chaor, your boy is safe. Anyway, we will rest for the night. Tomorrow, we are taking the frontline and we will rescue those two children. They don't seem to have Spectral Viewers," the king crossed his arms.

The two creatures said their farewells and left.

The two stopped when Maxxor entered. Theb-Saar put his hand on his shoulders and told him, "You have our support."

That reassured the ruler of the Overworld. When they were gone, Maxxor walked towards Annie, Donald and Justine, "You don't look like you are going to rest for the night," he pointed out at them.

Donald snickered as the two women gazed at him, " I can say the same for you."

"Just know that we will save Tom and Sarah. I'm sure the other two said the same. We will protect your world. I can promise that as well. Tomorrow, victory will be ours," he put his hand on his chest.

"T-thank you," Annie replied with hope in her voice. She just knew he wouldn't fail. She prayed to God to watch over them.

AC: This is the end of this chapter.

Next: Calm Morning.

Morning came and the creatures prepared to strike. Meanwhile, Tom and Sarah faced Milla'iin once again in their prison.