Chapter 5: Old Faces, New Places

The ship touched down on Sh'par's home planet, much his enjoyment. "We're here!" he called. "I can't believe I'm home," he whispered. He hit the walkway button, releasing the hatch. Sh'par grabbed his things, not waiting for anyone else, and raced down the metal ramp. His mind was racing, his senses filled with the atmosphere of his home. "Mother! Father! I'm home!" he yelled, running for his old neighborhood.

Tania followed after him a couple moments later. She decided to give them some time, and returned to the ship. The green boy needed to see his parents again.

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"K'lrk, help me set the table," said M'larr soberly.

"Yes, wife," he replied.

"Mother! Father!" they heard. M'larr began crying.

"I'm hearing him again, K'lrk! He's still in my head!"

"Mom! Dad? Are you home? I'm back!" Sh'par appeared at the door, his bag in hand.

M'larr dropped the dish she was holding, bringing her hands up to her cheeks. Tears streaked down her face as she rushed up to him. "Oh, Sh'par, my darling boy! My, how you've grown!" She ruffled his dark green hair.

Sh'par rolled his eyes, hugging her back. "Father, I missed you, too," he embraced his dad, who was also crying. "C'mon, let's go see my new friends!" he waved them outside, and they followed, confused.

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Tania leaned against the outer side of the spaceship, waiting patienly for her newest friend. She soon saw him running towards him, and she started for him.

"Tania, meet my folks!"

The couple looked as amazed as he did the first time he saw her. "Hello. My name is Tania, princess of Trillo," she introduced herself once they were there.

"Well, hello there!" K'lrk replied.

M'larr elbowed Sh'par in the ribs, whispering, "She's cute."

"Mo-om! She's my friend!" he whispered back. "This is my mom, M'larr."

"Hello, Mrs....Sh'par's mother," Tania said sheepishly.

"Please, call me M'larr! Oh, we're so glad to have our baby back!" M'larr hugged him and hurried them to their house, but noticed the other children in the windows of the ship. "Sh'par, who are they?"

He followed her gaze. "Oh, they're the others. From the place I was taken to. They were all captured, too – but we freed them."

"Oh! Well, invite them out! Are they looking for homes?" She had read his mind (but it wasn't her power).

"Yeah...sorta..."

"I know lots of people who would want them! Come, come, let them out!"

Late the next day, at the Ma'rocgk house...

"I can't thank you enough for helping my son escape, Miss Tania!" K'lrk hugged her tightly.

"Uhh, dad? She can't breathe."

"Oh, err...sorry," he apologized, letting go.

"No, it's alright...it's been awhile since I've had a bear hug." She smiled and sat down at the breakfast table. All the kids had been taken in, each with loving parents.

They ate their food, all but Sh'par. "Mom...I'm a vegetarian now."

"What? No...You love meat!"

"I used to love meat. I swore I'd never eat meat again, because I've become so many animals that I–"

"Oh, I understand dear. Well, I'll prepare a salad."

"Thanks, mom."

"I'll have some salad, too, Mrs. M'larr. I like meat, but I need to eat something else." Tania smiled knowingly at Sh'par.

"Alright, two salads then. K'lrk, would you like a salad?"

"No, wife, I love your homecooked Yri'rb. No offense, son."

"None taken. I just hope it's not one I knew."

They all laughed, and enjoyed their big breakfast.

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I need to do it. I have to return. "But it would be unfair to mom..." Sh'par hated it when he debated himself. "Uugh! This is so hard!"

"What is?" Tania asked, poking her head into his room.

"Uhh...nothing, it's nothing."

She raised her eyebrows. "Sh'par, I can sense lying, remember?"

He sighed, defeated. "Alright, come here – but don't tell anyone, promise?"

"Yeah, anything," she said, sitting next to him on his bed.

He took a deep breath. "I have to go back. To earth, I mean."

She was shocked. "Go back to earth? Are you nuts? Why would you want to leave this? Your friends, your family..." she looked at his sad expression. "Sorry. Go ahead."

"I miss earth. It's smells, it's sights, the animals...Everything. Yeah, I'll miss my parents, but earth has become my home. Feel free to stay, if you wish."

"No, I need to return to Trillo. I am the princess, remember?"

"Oh, yeah."

"I'll miss you, Sh'par Ma'rocgk."

"I'll miss you too, Tania...uhh..."

She giggled. "Sritz. Tania Sritz." She hugged him and left, saying, "I won't tell. I promise."

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"Leaving? So soon?" Sh'par's mother began to cry.

"Mom, I – Mom! Calm down, please!" She stopped, looking into his green eyes with love. "I have to go back. Earth is my home."

"No, this is your home."

"Mom...I miss earth. I miss the smells and the sights and the animals and the food...they have tofu there, a none-meat substitute! Mom, I miss my home! My other home!" She began to tear up again, not wanting to lose her baby again. "Mom. I'll be fine! And I'll never forget you."

His father had been silent the whole time. "Son, I wish you good luck at your new home."

"K'lrk! Don't encourage him!" scolded M'larr.

"No, I will, wife. He needs to make his own choices."

M'larr didn't speak for a long time. Finally, she conceded. "Alright," she sighed, "you may go. On one condition."

"Name it!" Sh'par said excidedly.

"Find yourself a good home with friends where you can be with someone. I don't want my boy in a world by himself where he knows nobody. Okay?"

"Sure, mom. I'll find some friends, trust me. They'll be experts at the earth culture and everything!"

"That's my boy." She started crying again. "Now go...go before I change my mind. And have fun!"

"I'll miss that boy," said K'lrk.

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Tania and Sh'par had travelled back to her homeworld of Trillo, preparing to drop her off. "Thank you, Sh'par, for rescuing me."

"Call me Beast Boy."

"Why? I like Sh'par."

"Because I hate Morphoboy. I changed it to Beast Boy." He saw the disappointment in her eyes. "Okay...you can call me Sh'par...if it really means that much to you."

She smiled, but it vanished as they went to say goodbye. "I hope to see you again, Sh'par. I'll really miss you."

He hugged her, saying, "I'll miss you more, Tania."

"Nuh-uh! I'll miss you more," she giggled. "Well, goodbye." She walked slowly down the ramp to her palace steps, and when she reached the foot, she turned around. Her eyes were blurry, but she still saw the black and prurple clad boy. She waved sadly before making her way up the long flight of stairs.

"Bye, Tani!" he called, seeing her for the last time. Tears ran down his cheeks as he realised that he had just lost his best friend.

If you are sad and/or crying, don't worry – he...wait! I can't tell! You'll just have to wait till I post the next chapter! ;)