Alternate Destiny: Sloth's Reign

Author's Notes: This series is really hotting up as the Rebels prepare for the Showdown in the Outlands! But, just what is Calais planning with that malicious glint in his eyes? And why is Rexford's father crucial to the battle? The battle of the Outlands is about to start...


"Yeah, Dana? You can't be serious!" laughed Kali as she watched her rival with her baby-blue eyes, "I see that you have been shaping up since Valentines Day- but this is plainly ridiculous! I mean, look at these clothes- and your Eyrie is balky!"

"You might think its silly, but it's more personal for me…" retorted Dana.

"And don't insult Isis, she's just in a bad mood today, isn't that right?" Isis nodded; her hooked talons scrabbled on the baked dirt floor as the sapphire Griffin Neopet reared up, revealing brown leathery short reins attached to a metal bit in the beak.

Kali raised an eyebrow. A Neopet adapted for riding, what is going on? Was something going on, that not even she knew about it? Clearly something is wrong.

"You're going riding, right Dana?" guessed Kali, "On your feathered steed?"

"I'm just checking on the Psychic Pack tribe on the other side of the mountain."

The light-green haired girl rolled her eyes in mock disappointment, "Of course you are! How could I have not known about that? It must have slipped off my mind because every day, you keep doing the same schedule!"

"Why, what's wrong with that?" said Dana practically, it's not something I do for fun, the entire Rebel Resistance relies on me to scout out for them!" Kali pouted.

"You might as well watch trees grow, that's more exciting than whatever you do!" stormed Kali, she wasn't in a boastful mood today- might as well save it.

"Well, I must go; Maxine's relying on me to check out the boundaries." Being astride Isis, Dana commanded her dear Eyrie to flap her wings as she held the reins.

"Right away!" mumbled Isis through the bit. WHOOSH! A minute later, a trail of dust was left behind as Kali coughed profusely, "Maybe I should stick to Aerie's grooming, that's more useful." She muttered as she turned to her silver Diaconate.

"Yes, I agree!" boomed Aerie's deep voice. It didn't exactly match Kali's high fluty voice, but it didn't matter to them as her voice matched both of their thinking.

Suddenly, there was a sharp scream heard across the plains as Kali and Aerie both looked up in absolute fear. The ground trembled. Thankfully, Dana came back on Isis - but this time, Isis's wing was crooked and the Eyrie was trampling the ground. The sturdy wing was broken and feathers trailed from the tip…

"They- they attacked poor Isis! The Aisha leader, Vienna said something about not tolerating us being in her territory any longer!" stuttered Dana, trying to recover.

Maxine's eyes were wide when he heard the news. Then he ruffled his dark blue hair with worry. "It's not possible; we've been trying to keep the peace for years-" Calais grinned as he saw it, "Don't worry, Max! I'll lead the Rebels to victory!"

There was an unusual glint in his eyes- was it friendliness or was it something else?

Quickly, Max put on silver armor which would protect the Rebels from any harm. The others prepared and their weapons were more compact and easier to carry. It was time for the Outlands showdown, but this time there was no turning back!

"Stay close to the rear!" screamed Dana as they all braced for the impact.

Unfortunately Calais gave the command to charge directly on, which the others had no choice but to obey! The wild Aishas of many different hues, poured through the mountain trail, their paws were viciously spiked with claws and their ears prickled.

The psychic-catlike Neopets were blending as one in the immense crowds, the Aishas powered up their defences, shields shimmering with a bright neon glow. Their rarely seen eyes suddenly flew open; each eye had a distant knowing look…

"Oh, should we-" breathed Sabrina, she was about to say something to Calais but it was too late-
"Shield barrier!" the Aishas all cried. Suddenly, they were releasing so much energy that the area where the Rebels stood was flooded with a crackling light.

"Great- just great!" muttered Kali after the attack shortly ended, her normal hair looked frizzled like a clown's wig. "Look at my hair! And my weapon- just shattered like that!"

She heldthe weaponup, but then Maxine realised something- the leftover metal seemed to have warped slightly. Calais didn't seem to have noticed the damage, but Rexford did! Dana seemed to have a dazed expression on her face.

"AYE! Calais, look here- if we fight these wild Aishas any longer, then their combined powers (all into one) will defeat us! That sword had distorted badly!"

"That bodes no good then, I was about to tell Calais we should turn back!" yelled Sabrina, "What sort of person would tell us to charge before Vienna attacked!"

"We need reinforcements, which are strong!" said Dana thinking very quickly, "That's the only weakness in our plan!" she concluded.

"What plan! We don't have a plan!" snapped Calais as the rest of the feral Aishas glared at them, observing what they were doing. "You know what I think? We should get Vienna over here and then defeat her with a natural-" Then Rex interrupted him!

"A natural enemy? Aye! You've given me an idea!" wagged Rex happily, "I know what Vienna's afraid of!" The tame Gelert at once began howling for a few minutes Vienna was confused, what was the Gelert saying?

Immediately, there was an answer and the rest of the Paw tribe trooped along around the Rebels. All of the Gelerts were led by Terra, the huge sapphire-coloured leader with a raw irate gaze in his eyes.

"YOU! TERRA! Go away!" hissed the crimson Vienna as she faced her natural enemy; her four ears were like arrows pointing at him. "Get Terra!" she screamed. But the entire 'Psychic Pack' just looked at the huge, fierce, long-eared Neopets surrounding them and cringed away.

No way that they could run, they were glued to the spot in total fear. At once there was yelling, screaming and a full-scale ruckus occurred. As the fearsome Gelerts snapped and clawed at the Aishas, the Psychic Pack ran for the hills leaving the plains behind.

Then the most amazing thing happened, the blue Terra turned to Rex who had called the Paw Tribe. He insisted to talk to Rex in private…

"My son, Rex… You are runt of Paw Tribe, your brothers' here." revealed Terra.

"I'm your son?" yelped Rexford in astonishment, "That's not true!"
"Terra left you with Owner so you can find better life!" growled the blue leader as Rex's brothers joined him. "Now, you are hero of Tribe! You in Terra's favour."

"Come," commanded Terra with a grin, "Choose: Your tribe or your owner?"
"My owner; I will always be safe with him! Agree?" panted Rex. Terra nodded.

"Okay, it's up to son. Saris and Yuma, say bye to your brother!" A spotted Gelert (Yuma) with shaggy, custardy fur and a strong complexion waved to Rexford and the elder Shadow Gelert (Saris) with a fresh scar on his eye and battle marks just growled at his younger, more inexperienced brother ("Runt, he aught to be…").

Then after a few words of consolation, Saris and Yuma loped off as Rex and Terra exchanged renewed glances of admiration.

"Keep well, noble son of Terra!" said the old leader simply as he joined the other Gelerts in his tribe, "Protect owner and new family!" Terra called as Rexford joined the Rebels again.

"Father!" whined Rexford… "Won't I ever see you again?" There was no answer; there was only the eerie wind that called, spreading like mist across the battle-grounds…