Mevea reaches up and flicks one of the flight controls, keeping an eye on the screen for a change. A word on the screen changes from closed to open. The status of communication is finally able to receive important contact with the planet floating before them. A large fleet of ships surrounds and patrols Equestria for any enemy fleet or ship wanting to come for them with ill intent. Luckily, no such fleet has come yet—only small ships at specific points.
Mevea hums and turns on the communication line. "Hammerhead 01 to Equestria Academy tower. Requesting permission to land," she asks, looking over the ship's status if anything is happening while entering the atmosphere.
"Hammerhead 01, landing zone two is available. Come through air route six. Watch for air traffic exiting the academy landing zones."
Mevea hums as she flicks another switch. "Thank you, tower. We'll see you soon," she responds before calling over the ship intercom to Dadea's room. "Hey Dadea, can you wake the crew? And make sure the captain isn't sleeping with our new member," she adds with a snide, and she hears a scoff over the radio.
"Come on, Mevea, the captain isn't that much of a casanova. If that were true, I would have taken his room by now," Dedea responds, giggling before sighing. "Alright. Let's get this party started," she comments, and Mevea hears her groan. "I'm off."
Mevea rolls her eyes as she guides the ship to the route on the glass heads up display. All before the small elevator rolls behind her and someone steps forward. "We have permission to land and a landing zone given. All that is left is putting this big sucker down, captain."
"I appreciate the formality," Ruby responds, smiling as she hops into the other chair. Mevea looks at her in surprise as she was expecting Arcane to come down sooner. "But I am not the captain. More as a co-CO with you," Ruby half-jokes and half-explains while activating her chair to help. "Okay. Let's see if I can help streamline our upgrade," she voices to herself, searching for the correct channel to contact.
Mevea sighs and settles into her seat as they ride down the path given as they break through the clouds. A few pegasi look annoyed at the ship as they pass by, moving a few clouds in their hooves. Mevea looks on with intrigue at the many flying ponies handling the weather for today. "What are the weather plans for today?" she asks, wondering if they can get a free rinse from a rainstorm.
Ruby hums as she looks up the weather report available to anyone with extranet access. "Sunny and cloudy. Mild seventies. Same for most of the week too. Except for Friday for rain," she reads off while the academy comes into view. "Why? Want a free wash?" Ruby jokes, smirking at the pilot.
Mevea rolls her eyes while the view of the academy buildings turns to the landing zones nearby where two other ships lie on other platforms. "Maybe."
"Security seems a bit tighter than when we were here last," Arcane comments.
Both the communications officer and commanding pilot turn their heads to see Arcane craning his head past them to stare out the glass. "Oh, hey, captain. Didn't think you would be up so fast," Ruby comments as they do notice all the security ships and patrols happening with teams of space pirates and guards on board. "Yeah. It must be whatever your father is thinking of. Or is this a festival that I must have missed while away?" Ruby asks, curious if anything else besides the noticeable change.
Arcane sighs. "Just told me it's Mandalorian business. So I do have to attend anyway. Can you girls and the rest handle any upgrades and supplies?" he asks, trying to spy Blitz among the crowd. But after seeing no sign of him or the personal changeling guards Leon and Ashely, he figures they must be inside his office still. Then he spies Rainbow Dash, Spitfire, and Applejack there among the central connection platforms. "Looks like three of my mothers are also here," Arcane comments.
Ruby smiles as she finally gets the line for the R&D department. "Maybe you should head out quickly then. They might be worried about you," she quips, and he smacks his tail against her face. She giggles while he turns and walks away. "Give them a hug from me, handsome," she teases and hears a small groan from him and the elevator.
"You don't want me to do that. Those three are some of the more protective. Do you think my dad scares suitors off? They scared most of them off alone," Arcane tries to explain.
Mevea raises a scaled eyebrow as she watches the two interact. 'I am curious about what kind of suitors they were,' she notes to herself while seeing Ruby laugh.
"Then I must be the worst one, handsome," Ruby teases, still smiling. "I have faced worse, so don't worry," she passes off with a waving hoof as Arcane disappears. She then smiles and turns towards Mevea, who quickly turns back to the consoles to power down the ship's parts. "So happy to be back?"
Mevea stops what she is doing and looks at the mare with an apparent frown on her face. Ruby, meanwhile, keeps smiling away happily.
"Applejack, you know we have to get going, right?" Spitfire asks the mare who has been hugging Arcane for the last ten minutes.
Applejack hums happily while Arcane chokes in her neck hold. "More time needed," she says wistfully while he coughs out an obvious sign of help needed with his eyes to the other mares.
"Down girl," Spitfire orders, smacking Applejack's flank.
Applejack yelps and frowns at her co-wife before smiling and letting go of Arcane. Arcane breathes in deeply as he rubs his neck before smiling at the three mothers. "Hi, mommies. I'm back," he says before chuckling and then looking around. "Where's dad? I heard he is with Leon and Ashely today," he asks, looking at the main entrance of the academy.
"No, actually he had to deal with something, or was it somepony?" Rainbow asks.
"He is destroying some pirates who thought they could set up in our territory. No prisoners will be taken," Spitfire informs.
Arcane hums as he taps his chin and takes a look around as more ships land in the other landing zones. "Well, any case, what's with the special? Are we holding a Mandalorian festival because dad isn't saying much at all," he asks, wondering what could be special about this one that Blitz needed him.
"It's not just a festival. It will be your rite of passage," Lightning informs, flying past them in her wonderbolt uniform.
Arcane follows where she is going as she flies around them. "Rite of passage?" he asks mostly to himself. He hasn't looked up Mandalorians' traditions that much since he is a pony and Equestrian based. "Must be a hunt," he concludes while going over the history and traditions that he does know.
"Yeah, it might be like mine when I officially became a Mandalorian," Lightning says, smiling while landing on his back and then notices something. She slowly steps around curiously before walking in a circle and lying down. "His back is puffy and soft, even though his cloak," she concludes, smiling. "He has Blitz's wings," she says, smiling towards the other mares.
"Lightning, please have some dignity as a commander of the planet's fleets," Spitfire comments, sounding embarrassed to know her.
Arcane smiles with a blush and leans down to his mothers. "It's okay. Mom used to place my sisters on my wings when they needed a quick nap after all. Besides, at least she's smiling," he notes, looking back at Fleetfoot and blinks as they notice her snoring on his back, having fallen asleep. "Wow. Must have gotten better," Arcane comments while his omnitool beeps for something. "Anyway, if my moms need something, do ask, and, as your son, I will help," he declares.
"Kid, that is the closest thing to my chivalry card that I gave at one point," they hear someone say as scratching and slightly heavy thuds approach them. All the ponies turn their heads and notice Spike walking up to them with a smile on his muzzle and in an admiral uniform made for his now-grown size. Ridley right behind him as the space dragon seems preoccupied with something on his tablet. "How's it going? How's life in space as a mercenary?" Spike asks as he wraps an arm easily around Arcane's neck.
Arcane smiles. "Pretty good, uncle. I got involved in a civil war that I cheated the guy on Omega for. Never resolved, though," he chuckles before looking around him. "Where are my aunties?"
Spike hums and scratches his muzzle with a claw. "Busy. I came down here to grab some stuff. Thought I stop by and see how one of my favorite nephews is doing," the drake responds cheekily.
"Omega, you said? Spike, is that where these guys are?" Ridley asks, showing Spike something on the tablet before he nods in reply.
Arcane is about to crane his neck to look at whatever is being shown but quickly decides against it. "What is it, uncle? Something me and my team missed over there?" he asks, wondering if he missed a home contract to cash in. As he does so, he opens his omnitool to see what came in. He sighs as another picture is sent to him from this SCP, and it's of his father standing between two changelings while they overlook a scorched area with vehicles and bodies lying around. "Man. Dad is doing some work," he voices as the mares catch a glimpse of Blitz for a second before Arcane turns the thing off.
"Looks like a regular Tuesday," Fleetfoot jokes.
Arcane smiles and uses his magic to take Fleetfoot off his back before placing her down next to the others. "So, uncle, did I miss something?" he asks again, seeing Spike and Ridley engrossed in something on the tablet.
"Nothing you need to be concerned about," Spitfire says firmly. Arcane raises a questionable eyebrow at her, and she gives one back. The other mares look between the two while Spike and Ridley, sensing the tension without looking, walk away as they fake a discussion. As son and mother keep staring at each other, Arcane's omnitool beeps again and makes him break eye contact, making Spitfire smirk. "I win."
Arcane sighs and looks up at what is sent to him before seeing a picture of him and a ship is hovering behind him. He raises an eyebrow as the mares all smile past his massive form. Arcane shakes his head and turns his head around. "Hey, dad."
Blitz, in his iconic Mandalorian armor, takes off his helmet and smiles at his son. "Hey, son. Hope you're ready," he voices while Leon and Ashley wave at their prince, happy that Arcane remembers their names.
"Jaix, what are you doing here?" Arcane asks the trandoshan as they ride on transport with other Mandalorians in armor. Put as thoroughly as possible, Arcane was quickly shuffled over into a short-range shuttle with others, and now they are flying to another planet in their system to hunt around in. He didn't even have time to talk to the family, but figures he has more time in the future, and his crew is getting the ship and supplies handled right now.
"I am here to hunt," Jaix informs with a small hiss.
Arcane hums as he lowers his head, not to bother the changelings hanging from the ceiling who will be their judges and officials. He does find it odd that hardly a Mandalorian official is overseeing this but figures the changelings are tapping into Blitz's mind to have the information. He then cranes his neck and looks at Jaix as he wipes and oils his blades. "So what do you think we are hunting?" he asks. That was all he was told and from whispers in both the hive mind and the other Mandalorians on board. This is a hunt. And a big one.
"Got to be something big to have so many hunters," Jaix says as he takes note of how many are on board.
"And the changelings no less," Arcane adds as he looks at one and brings his head up to her. "Excuse me? Lila?" he asks, poking her with a hoof.
"Please be patient, my prince," Lila, the changeling, responds as she remains curled up on the ceiling with her eyes closed. "When we land, you and the others will receive further instructions," she explains while holding a smile from hearing her name from her prince. 'Prince, don't look at them, but those Mandalorians with the black skull emblem. Their clan has been getting close to stepping on your father's hooves. Their leader is an arrogant upstart your father sometimes muses to kill or take the clan apart piece by piece,' Lila informs through the mind link.
Arcane hums as he brings his head back and turns to Jaix. "Can you oil my hunting knife?" he asks, floating over the long sheathed vibroblade towards Jaix. "You know it better," Arcane praises smiling.
"Planning on using it?" Jaix questions as he takes the knife.
Arcane shrugs. "Might come in handy if I lose my lightsaber or blaster. And never leave home without one," he recites like Blitz said, holding up a hoof. "And if this is a Mandalorian hunt, best to kill with a knife," he adds, shrugging. Then they hear and see the other Mandalorians take out their vibroblades and start to clean and oil them.
Soon they landed, and Arcane can feel the eyes of several of the other Mandalorians on him. From what his changelings tell him, they are all from the five Mandalorians Arcane was warned of. "Welcome to your right of passage," a hologram of a Mandalorian says when it appears before them. "I am huntmaster Zurd. Today, you will be hunting to prove you are worthy of the title of Mandalorian. Teams are allowed, but hunting and killing fellow Mandalorians isn't. Anyone who is found doing this will receive no mercy and will not have a quick death," the huntmaster informs as the changelings now fly out of the ships while two of them set up a small table in front of the hologram. "If you try to hide it, don't bother. The changelings around you will be watching every one of you. Their eyes, magic, and skills are tuned to hunting those that hide like womp rats," Zurd explains.
Zurd then seems to eye some of the Mandalorians, but they play it off as him just looking at some hologram of them on a small table. "You are to go to the two changelings who will be cataloging each of your identifications and weapons to use on this hunt. You are not allowed certain weapons and items according to their list. If you are found using it, then you will be treated much the same as killing another. After you are registered, you may go off and begin your hunts. Remember the rules, have respect, and this will go smoothly," he explains before his hologram glitches away.
As the hologram disappears, the changelings at the table wave their hooves at the collected group of warriors. "Please come over to have your weapons looked over and accepted," one calls, and everyone starts to line up. Arcane and Jaix are standing right behind one another as they slowly move along.
After having their equipment logged, they are let loose to start their hunting. Jaix starts to like this world as it is a jungle world and is lovely, warm, and humid. At first, they were going to split up until Arcane informed his friend of the hostile intent of those five Mandalorians who had been eyeing him on the ship. Jaix frowns before they continue to trek through the trees.
The planet seems to be heavily humid as the trees feel and seem mossy and wet most of the time. This planet appears a mix of a swamp and a regular forest appearance. Roots rise high on the ground floor, making it impossible to run as fast as a flat field or path. There isn't even a clear path through the trees as with every three of them; a high root would make it possible to trip the one going through the area. Even the armors of the hunters and warriors start to become covered in a wet sheen from the humid air and water on the leaves of the trees.
It didn't take long for Arcane and Jaix to find their first targets, who were two lion-like creatures that ran on the roots in front of them. They managed to ambush the pair, but Arcane and Jaix were able to put them down. They started to contemplate what to do about where to sleep and finding a safe place to handle anything else. After a while, the two find a large tree with an alcove at the base with only one way in and out. Jaix goes about cooking the creatures they killed while Arcane takes on a small patrol around their camping area to make sure there aren't any markings of other animals that could be dangerous.
As Arcane finds nothing, he returns to their camping spot before stopping as he reaches the edge. A faint tickle on his mind reminds him of how the changelings would try to link his mind to communicate with him. But they are possibly not allowed to interact with anypony unless there is a valid reason, such as the rules being broken by somepony. So why did this one try it? Arcane narrows his eyes as he sinks back into the shadows of a tree as the moon settles over the hunting area. He hums as he lays down to hide his enormous size and looks around, taking note of anything out of the ordinary, such as foliage moving when it's not supposed to or some object out of place.
Arcane slowly moves his gaze to where Jaix is sitting in the alcove. The small fire is burning at some meat they stripped from the creatures and their rations. Though, Jaix has the foresight to leave some pony made hay and oat rations for the alicorn and cook them over the fire so they can be nice and toasty. Arcane doesn't see anything out of the ordinary around the area, so he moves his head around, his ears flicking every which way before hearing a creak. A faint itching on his mind is felt before it goes away. A very subtle hint that a changeling is trying to contact him to talk, but it seems it is only enough to warn him. Arcane lowers his head to the ground in a slow-moving way in a slow-moving way before settling on the damp dirt and moss.
A sudden boot steps in front of Arcane, and he frowns as he looks up to see another Mandalorian looking at Jaix as he hides behind the tree. Arcane is thankful for his dark black fur that keeps him hidden in the dark before looking around with one of his eyes, seeing another two Mandalorians approach his position. They take up cover behind the trees and aim their rifles at Jaix as he hisses at the cooked meat and salivates for it. Arcane twitches his wings before suddenly sitting up, smacking his outstretched wings into the two near him. They slam into the trees from the force of the hit, knocking a rifle out of one of their hands. The third one is twisting around and aiming at Arcane before using his magic and force powers in reflex to send the muzzle upward, sending the shot through the leaves.
Jaix, seeing the blaster fire and sound of fighting, hisses in annoyance at interrupting his dinner. He grabs his blaster from near him before rushing off towards the edge, where Arcane struggles to keep the two Mandalorians pinned against the trees with his wings. The third Mandalorian aims at the pony before being blasted in the arm by Jaix. He looks over and drops his rifle in the process, taking out his pistol blaster before that is shot away too. The assailant reels his arm from the recoil before being tackled by Jaix. The trandoshan hisses as he brings his vibroblade up and then slams into the gap of the helmet and armor, slicing into the man's neck.
Arcane grunts as he feels a hard kick into his flank, sending him down onto the ground. He groans as he feels his horn knock against some roots before looking back and seeing the two remaining attackers aiming at him with their pistol blasters. A beeping orb suddenly comes between them as the pace of the sound picks up speed. Arcane, figuring out what it is, immediately puts up a magic force field as an explosion occurs in front of him, partially making his shield flicker from the blast. Arcane sighs in relief as the smoke clears as the two Mandalorians are left smoking, and sooted bodies slumped against the trees.
Arcane lowers his shield while Jaix slices their throats with their blades, making sure to leave hardly a trace. He even goes so far as to switch the blades and put them in each hand to mess things up and leave a confusing mess. Arcane sighs in relief at heaving dealt with this mess before frowning as he wonders where the fourth one is. Jaix slowly looks at him before taking out a blaster, and Arcane brings up one in his magic grip, both aiming behind his flank. Two shots fly out into the gaps of the trees, hitting something before they hear a wet splat in the distance.
"We…are in trouble," Jaix concludes before noticing Arcane closing his eyes and somehow using his magic to sense something.
"No. We are not. But we will if we talk," Arcane concludes before tossing the bodies into the bushes to hide them with his magic. He then does the same to the weapons and starts walking back to their campsite, with Jaix following. "Now, I'm hungry, tired, and want to enjoy this night," he chuckles as he smells the hay and oats. "Smells good," Arcane compliments and takes some in his magic before eating it.
Jaix watches the pony gorge on some crispy and crunchy hay that is larger than the alicorn's mouth before shaking his head to grab some meat for himself. He might as well enjoy himself too from this mess they just had with being attacked. But self-defense must come into play for them if they are ever caught. Arcane keeps chewing as he thinks back to what he did after the fight. A pulse of magic that only the high ranking changelings know for keeping track of where almost all changelings are in a given moment. It is usually handy when in battle if one can not sense a changeling mind in the area or closed off for some reason. And what he felt disturbed him for a second.
His pulse took a long while to come back with a changeling in the area.
The night drew long. Jaix took up the first watch before waking Arcane for the last wee hour. To their relief, no one else bothered to attack them while they slept. Not even the creatures, but that could be attributed to the bodies that now lay in the trees and bushes keeping them away. Arcane is glad for once as he flies above the treeline to get a lay of the land. But with such thick leaf cover, it would be impossible to tell besides how high each part of the land is. He even playfully waves at a passing changeling who waves back before the black creature buzzes away to continue their duty.
Arcane could have asked about last night, but he preferred not. For one reason. The main ones who can control the changelings are his mother and father. Twilight Sparkle and Blitzkrieg Reed. The queen and king of the changelings. While Arcane is the prince, they all could command the changelings to tell the truth and do whatever they so desired. But this event last night, Arcane has a feeling this was done on purpose. Not the attack. But the changelings who were supposed to keep watch. Being a prince has its perks, but Arcane guess he was meant to stop them somehow. And the way the changelings in the area were located, he can imagine there was only one outcome possible for this group.
Arcane shakes his head, worried. The changelings would never leave their prince out of sight like that. But the only other ones who can stop such protection are his parents. He doubts they wanted him to die. Arcane can guess that a few changelings might have intervened if he did get close to death, but his capabilities are well known among the hive. A chilling thought also occurs. Does Blitz want Arcane to kill these fools and whoever they work for? Does his enemy's hatred for his family run that far deep that the enemy would risk this event for it? So many questions and so little time. Besides, this event is almost over, and Jaix and Arcane need a kill now if they want to pass.
The trek through the forest is rough and thin. Arcane's body squeezes through tight fittings while Jaix easily snakes around spots that would make a pony like Pinkie very proud of the flexibility. They then come across a downed tree with large gashes on the trunk. The two hunters turn their gaze past the tree and look at the gaping area where they can guess a large animal charged through. Claw marks line the trunks. Branches are broken and either fallen to the ground or pressed flat against the earth. Roots uplifted on those that still stand while other trees didn't survive the ordeal as they are uprooted and lying in various places and ways. This must be their prize to end the hunt for them.
Jaix rushes on ahead down the new crushed path. Arcane takes flight and flaps his wings forward of the rushing reptile. The alicorn's eyes scan the treeline, looking for anything breaking through the mass of leaves and branches. In Arcane's mind, it should be a large body size based on the path of destruction with very sharp claws. But what can even cause this mess?
Suddenly, Arcane stops in mid-air, flapping his wings to keep him steady. A hunched over form rises above the pathway leading through the trees. A figure that splits the trees and leaves, letting him see it. A shape that Arcane reads off pretty well, even if only from the backside. It has pale skin, an elongated tail, and many tusks and horns sticking out of its face and head. It even seems more armored around the head and on top of its back. The lumbering beast even appears to be actively hunting for something. Possibly more Mandalorians who may be seen by it or attacked it to take it as a kill.
"That's…a bull Rancor," Jaix says, practically salivating at the thought of killing it. He even starts to take out his blade and blaster with both weapons shaking in his hands.
Arcane rolls his eyes at the excitement before him and lands at a skidding stop beside Jaix. "Now hold up," he commands, putting his horn and head in the way. Jaix stops as he listens, wondering if Arcane already has a plan. "Can't go bum-rushing that beast. First off, we need to disable his movements and then go for the kill. So, when you are eager and quick on the ground, go for the legs. First around the feet and then knees. I will take care of the arms," Arcane explains, holding a hoof to his chest at the end as he smiles.
Jaix looks him over, wondering what weapons he will use. "And your weapon of choice? I would think they limited your magic to only a few spells," Jaix points out, having gone through the process first before Arcane joined him from the beginning of the hunt.
Arcane grins. "Even the most basic spells have their uses. I can figure it out. You handle your end, and we can have a way easier time on our hooves," he notes while his horn becomes encased in his aura.
Jaix hisses happily before running off past him. Arcane chuckles as he flies off into the air. His mind flows through the list of allowed spells and lands on one. He starts to formulate the magic spell matrix in his mind. Arcane works fast on moving and editing things around while flying towards the arms that either stay limp or swipe at an annoying tree in the rancor's way.
Then the rancor roars as Jaix jumps onto it from the back. Arcane watches as he starts stabbing it in the neck, aiming to damage either its spleen or spine to really damage or even cripple this monster of boundless rage. Arcane groans as he rolls his eyes. His mind now separated as if two Arcanes are working in his mindscape. 'That guy is losing it on the bloodlust. I have to find a way to train him in his state like that,' he thinks while the other half finishes the spell matrix change.
His horn glows brightly before a small dark beam, bright and seemingly able to swallow all the light at the same, flies out and strikes at the shoulder of the rancor. The monster roars in pain and tries to swing the useless arm at Jaix, hoping to grab him off and crush him in its claws. But Arcane doesn't allow that as he fires off another beam, hitting the other shoulder. The two limbs being lost allows Jaix to strike somewhere on the spine and sends it tripping onto the ground. Jaix roars in victory as the rancor tries to move its legs to get up but can only move up to its knees, making it crawl like a caterpillar.
Arcane quickly lands down hard, slamming all of his hooves into the back of the neck and striking the spine. A loud crack sounds out and makes Jaix momentarily wince before seeing the rancor unable to move. Arcane looks closely at the flailing eyes as it looks around in pure terror. The chest slowly breathes to a stop before both warriors look upon their soon to be utterly dead prey.
Arcane hums as he steps off the back and walks around the rancor. "We might have a problem," he notes, craning his head closer to the body.
Jaix hisses, annoyed. "What could be a problem? We killed it," he states the obvious. He even stomps his foot on the back, getting no response from the beast.
Arcane then points a hoof at the head where the tusks should be as it lies face down in the destroyed earth. "The horns and tusks are buried in the ground. It will be a bitch to get it out."
Jaix roars in frustration at the sound of that.
"Embarrassing," Jaix mumbles, sitting at the landing area. Both he and Arcane watch as the dropship slowly lowers their kill near them. "Why couldn't you do it?" Jaix then asks, turning to Arcane.
Arcane takes a slow deep breath, shaking his head. "I just did a potent and pinpoint spell to take out the arms. Me changing my matrix to do that and firing two of them left me with less magic in my pool than I thought would go away. If I lifted that thing, I would have collapsed from mana exhaustion," he clarifies.
Jaix hisses, confused now as he raises an eyebrow. "Don't we have the force?" Honestly, he could try himself, but Jaix knows he is not proficient enough to try yet. He could test out the weight limit afterward when they get back. For now, they are just waiting for the changelings to approve the kill as they buzz all around it.
Arcane nods. "But I don't feel comfortable with it for some reason. It feels…off. Like when you touch something, and it's not as you expected or looks like," he tries to describe, looking distant in his way of explaining.
"Meaning you got some bias, maybe some superiority view of magic without realizing it?" Jaix asks.
Arcane scoffs and shakes his head. "If my dad heard that, he would tan my hide like a leather flap on a post," he chuckles at his small impression of momma Applejack. "But no. I can use the force. Not quite as well as my dad, obviously, but something about it feels off. Until I get more comfortable than I did at the academy, I will be using magic more often. And if I want to do something hidden without showing my aura, the force it is until I am able," Arcane explains, smiling.
"Well, either way, I think it will be hard to top our kill," Jaix points out.
Arcane smiles and nods. "Yeah. Hard to find these guys anyway. No way another big animal is out there on the planet," he cheers as he flies into the air for a few feet. Some changelings then fly towards them, looking very happy to meet their prince, and another reason. "So…did we win, guys?" Arcane asks, leaning his head down to them.
One of the changeling's steps forward and giggles. "Congratulations, my prince and Jaix. You have won the hunt."
Arcane grins. "Thanks, Millie," he appreciates, which makes the changeling buzz in happiness at hearing her name. "Okay. So what now? Is there another part of this hunt or celebration?"
"Now we take you to you…I guess taking you to the king will have to wait," Millie says, stopping.
Arcane tilts his head. He hums and lays down, lowering himself to her height. "What happened? Is dad okay?" he asks, concerned.
Millie smiles gently, not wanting to worry her prince. "It is okay, my prince. The king is dealing with easy issues at the moment. For now, we can take you back to the castle and let you rest if you need to."
Arcane chuckles and gives an apologetic smile. "Nah. I have to check my team, and…" he then stops as he looks at Jaix before back at Millie. "Actually, yes. I would like to go back to the castle. And take Jaix where he wants," he requests, to which Millie bows with the other changelings before a few ready the dropship for takeoff.
Jaix raises an eyebrow as he walks up closer beside Arcane. "Are you planning something?" he asks. Jaix can hear an idea forming from that last request he made.
Arcane chuckles. "Yeah," he says while they watch the changelings work. "I am going to find more team members. It might help clear up holes in our team and grab more money on the missions. More members to go around and do so after all."
Jaix hisses in a questioning tone. "But how are you going to find them?"
Arcane hums and looks at the trandoshan in equal thought. "Well, that's where my large family comes into play. Such time for a little family reunion," he happily says. One of the changelings overhears his happy plan and alerts their queen to the prince's arrival.