Cryos, Graveheart, Femur, Jade, Pelvus and Xerxes slowly padded down the ramp from the Aurora's Launch bay toward the surface, the ship simply too large to land anywhere closer than they already had, the ship itself easily able to dwarf the capital within it's mountain range. Cryos frowned, noticing that a strange pattern had appeared on the ground from a point nearby, Xerxes smiling and chuckling at his confusion, as the radiating ring-like pattern shimmered golden along the surface of the ice as far as their eyes could see. Jade soon realised what they were looking at, Graveheart having to point out the almost perfect circular pattern to Femur.
"The heck is that from? Too colourful for Beast drones." Femur asked quizzically, looking to Xerxes expectantly with a grin.
"Samateus. Likely let out a small wave of Light energy to destabilise the attacking forces. She'd only do so if certain no civilians are within range." He motioned to where it seemed to stop along two near perfect lines, a cone with it's increasing end directed toward the palace where the shimmering circular markings did not reach. "That it doesn't continue toward the palace is a good sign, none got past her." Xerxes smiled, turning his head toward the Iceans emerging from the caves nearby, Pyrus, Blaze and Sternum with them and approaching slowly. They could catch brief snippets of the excited conversations amongst the civilians, in awe of the magnificence of the upgraded Aurora, curious and surprised that outwardly, they could distinguish Firian and Rockian technology and design elements just by looking at it, and with how well all of it blended many would be talking about the amazing ship that all the worlds of the alliance had a hand in shaping.
Blaze noticed the ship only as a secondary thought, his eyes were wide, the tall serpentine form before him reminiscent of a dream he had when young. That dream had a very similar being, talking with the late Vizier, as though it were his Emperor. It had been nothing more than that, something he passed off as more of a nightmare really, that his Emperor had been something else would be considered ridiculous and bordering on Treason. Pyrus however, gaped lightly at the firehawk-like serpentine Xerxes, having not seen him before he had sped off to follow Samateus with Zera, Zuma and Sternum.
"Well, at least we've drawn a bit of a crowd." Xerxes chuckled as Sternum, Pyrus and Blaze reached them, the large serpentine Ahr'Aht bowing deeply, making a show of spreading his wing-like back arms before straightening up to a more Lava-dog stance, tail out behind him and upper body hunched forward. He clasped his smaller hands before him, to show he hid nothing from them, neck arched and the six long pinion-feathers from his head hanging to either side of him. His eyes, almost identical to those of Firians, brilliant turquoise with dark charcoal scelera and slit pupils, regarded Pyrus with respect and admiration, and something else the young Prince was unable to discern. Perhaps pride?
"Prince Pyrus, General Blaze, Emperor Sternum, this is Xerxes of the Ahr'Aht. He's the one who has been working with us while Samateus was with you." Graveheart mediated, Cyros frowning but refraining from interrupting the group for now as he did not yet see Zera, nor Samateus, and became anxious and concerned by their absence. Blaze and Pyrus bowed immediately, Pyrus returning his staff to its retracted form and attaching it to his belt.
"Thank you for your quick assistance earlier, without you and Sam, I don't know if we would have reached the planet in time to stop what Lamprey was doing." Pyrus almost facepalmed, the gathered elders of their group crying out a resounding 'what?', except Blaze and Xerxes, who simply frowned and raised a lip to reveal a very carnivorous tooth profile in a snarl.
"Samateus suspected something of the sort, when the readings came back that no signals were being sent from the surface of the planet. Is the Princess with Samateus then?" Xerxes nodded, unsurprised that Lamprey had been involved in the events that almost brought the alliance to ruin. That he knew of the agent of the Beast planet was not unexpected, as they appeared to know a great deal about the monster, so it would not be a stretch for the telepathic species to know the names of the Beast planet commanders.
"Yes. Sam and Zuma helped Zera get Frost and his compatriots to holding, they were very quickly routed once Sam got involved. Something about her gaze, made them all just give up." Pyrus shrugged, Cryos narrowing his eyes and frowning at the mention of Frost, even Xerxes gave a snarl.
"That frigid old louse? Of course, he holds a grudge against you for surviving the collapse." Xerxes turned to Cryos who nodded, Pyrus and Blaze raising brows almost comically at the same time. "I was, with two others, in the Cluster some years ago on a scientific mission. My kind are shapeshifters, I was on planet Ice when King Cryos was still very young."
"You saved my life, for that I will forever be in your debt." Cryos interjected, Xerxes shaking his head. Pyrus' brows remained as high as they could go, Blaze relaxing only minimally when Cryos spoke as he was further unnerved by the admission that Xerxes had been in their home system decades earlier.
"That collapse was supposed to destabilise the entire cavern system, and kill us both, along with countless others. I'm just glad I got you clear in time and it didn't cascade as I feared it would." He motioned to the base of his throat, where a thick bangle-like necklace peeked out from under his feathers where it attached to his armour. A crest similar to the headshape of Samateus' armour was embossed in the centre of the largest part of the silvery metal. "This shield unit kept me safe, until I could free myself, you would have died had you been caught with me, and I never would have forgiven myself. That is something we can elaborate on more later, hmm?" Xerxes grinned rather facetiously at Cryos, then looked to Graveheart who floundered with a group of Icean civilians who were thanking him for his continued support within the alliance, and for saving their King when the Beast had first attacked. He tried to remain as humble as he always had, not feeling their adoration and respect to be his to accept. Even Pyrus understood this, smiling knowingly as they watched on, snickering when Xerxes moved closer and whispered his concern that such a large Rockian would be more timid than Pelvus.
"He's always been like this... Though without him I don't think I'd be as confident now after everything..." Pyrus chuckled, crossing his arms and watching on as Jade and Femur were also brought into the civilian conversations. Sternum soon moved to join his brother as Pelvus remained a bit further back, surprised by the openness of the Iceans gathering here, able to spot a few who were eyeing Xerxes and Pyrus with Blaze, who had relaxed considerably and began to act as though disinterested, yet something continued to nag at him.
Cryos fought with his duties to his people, and his concern for his daughter, Xerxes shifting his stance to regard him fully, tilting his head to one side curiously.
"I... I am concerned with what Frost has done, and what Lamprey may have done." Cryos admitted, able to feel as Xerxes wordlessly expressed his concern for him.
"Samateus would have alerted me if Lamprey had injured anyone too badly. She mentioned Frost being injured by Lamprey, which she remedied. Your daughter is very mature for her age, she did not want to make decisions without your consent, however those she did make appear to have shocked even our Firian compatriots here." Xerxes grinned, Blaze startling slightly, narrowing his eyes and rattling his ear spines, the jewelry there jingling lightly in an almost musical manner.
"We gave no consent to our thoughts being invaded." Blaze hissed, turning toward Xerxes, who raised a brow, about to retort that he had done no such thing, stopping when Pyrus raised an arm between them, eyeing Blaze pointedly.
"General, I gave Samateus permission to monitor my thoughts before we realised you were also on the surface. She may have done so with you as she knows everything that I do." Pyrus warned, voice low. Blaze recoiled slightly, tucking his head down, understanding the subtext involved with that admission. His sins were known to the female Taalrulthian, and likely also this Ahr'aht with them.
"Apologies, my prince. Lord Xerxes, please forgive my outburst." Blaze bowed again, Xerxes returning it.
"Forgiveness granted, though I took no offence. Psionics such as myself and Sam take some getting used to. Zuma and her kin appear, pacifistic? So they would not intentionally reach out to read minds unless invited, we do so to help those around us, in any way." Xerxes explained, offering a light smile as Blaze straightened up. "Though I don't remember you being even a fraction of this respectful when I was on planet Fire." This interested Pyrus immediately, and Blaze appeared more shocked and looked to others as though he had seen a ghost. Pyrus gaped, looking Xerxes over almost expectantly.
"You turned into a Firian? Can you show us?" His excitement made Xerxes sigh and chuckle, but shook his head.
"It's quite painful sadly, the first time almost knocked me out. Your people are every bit the Fire you are named for, and I would not wish to cause a stir, I know things are not as stable as you would have hoped... I am sorry for your loss..." Xerxes motioned a reverence. "The Vizier and Emperor Magmus were friends of mine when I was on planet Fire, I wouldn't have been able to remain as long as I had were it not for them, and their interfering with investigations into me by the previous General." Blaze had become unreadable, Pyrus completely enthralled by Xerxes' tale and Cryos temporarily forgotten, though thankfully so as some of the Icean family representatives had soon approached and asked him aside while Xerxes was speaking.
"You knew my dad?" Pyrus felt his chest tighten, taking in a steadying breath as Xerxes nodded, gently placing a hand on Pyrus' shoulder reassuringly.
"I did. He was every bit the Emperor you remember, though was a very nervous father." Xerxes smiled, Blaze scoffing.
"Amber did give him reason to be..."
"No more than her worrysome cousin." Xerxes grinned and retorted to Blaze's jab. Pyrus blinked, turning to Blaze who had his arms crossed and a defiant expression on his face. Pyrus gaped lightly at what he was hearing.
"Am I understanding this right, you're my Mom's cousin? Why didn't-" Pyrus stopped when Xerxes tapped his shoulder again, looking to the feathered Ahr'Aht.
"He has to keep that quiet for the most part, some might see it as... Nepotism." Xerxes explained, grinning lightly. "I only brought it up so Blaze would relax a bit. I am still an outsider, to any onlooker. That I've been on your and King Cryos' world in the past, might be seen as spying instead of research." Pyrus nodded, relaxing himself with a smile.
"I'd like to hear more about them, in private, later?" Pyrus asked expectantly, the hopefulness in his voice did not go unnoticed by the two elder males, who shared a smile.
"I would enjoy reminiscing, of course." Xerxes sounded like he was purring, the curious head tilt from Pyrus at the sound making him chuckle. "Apologies, I've not been so content for a long time. It feels like coming home, being here, and seeing that the alliance your father had once attempted did indeed happen, though it took an outside force to solidify, is healing to my soul. Though I will admit I was heartbroken when we saw planet Fire was not amongst the others..."
"Thanks to Jade we managed to get our people to safety. The Vizier-" Pyrus stopped, clenching a fist and looking away almost in shame at how emotional he still got talking about the man who gave his life to stall the Beast planet. Xerxes appeared to crumple inwardly himself, though still reassuringly placed a hand on Pyrus' shoulder as Blaze watched solemnly.
"He gave you and the alliance valuable time. I respected him a great deal, like your father, his loss pains me as well." Xerxes soothed, glancing to Blaze who nodded simply.
"We can talk more in private, of course. Samateus and I would be happy to help find better accomodations than the battle moon for the people of Planet Fire. It's the least I can do for the kindness your Father once showed me." Pyrus nodded, smiling and relaxing slowly. Blaze met Xerxes' gaze briefly, Xerxes shaking his head at an unspoken question, Pyrus missing the motion as he recovered from his emotions getting the better of him.