Leon used his shadow to teleport the group of alliance leaders, Femur and Zera most unsettled by the almost violating feeling of chilling shadow on their bodies, Sternum, Jade and Graveheart shuddering from the cold. Blaze, Khilseith, Cryos and Cinder unnerved more by the scent of blood that lingered within it, all agape that Leon had deposited them on the sand outside the Pyramid. Leon grinned at Pyrus who laughed and nodded, the tall bronze-furred draconian stepped away, spread his wings and launched skyward in a blink.
"Show off. Watch this." Samateus chuckled, teleporting in a moment after Leon stepped away, grinning lightly herself. Kemet yawned, still perched atop one of her horns in his miniature form as the others turned from her to watch as Leon was wreathed in swirling energy crackling with radioactive-green electricity. He reverted to his true form, not too unlike Samateus or a Taalrulthian in overall shape, just much larger, massive owl-like wings powering him up over the pyramid. A cheer of pride and happiness rose up over the walls of the pyramid, Leon visibly smiling, gathering energy around his large forepaws and concentrating a moment.
Gusts of wind soon swirled around him, picking up in intensity and growing to envelop the area around the pyramid for easily a kilometer around, buffeting the group of Leaders, Samateus having to carefully keep her wings closed to keep from being caught up in the gusts. Sand started to rise to a storm above and around Leon, clearing away hidden parts of the pyramid and city around it, revealing massive structures that must have been millennia old, design matching the armour worn by Ramset and the Sunians, several groups of Zumahim startled and revealed by the disappearing sand. Leon gathered the lifted sand together while transmuting it with his power into a series of seven glass orbs, which hovered almost obediently around him as he slowly lowered himself to the top of the pyramid.
"Mind your ears." Pyrus warned, covering his quickly and was mirrored by Zera, Cryos and Graveheart as Leon took in a deep breath and let out a roar that Jade and Sternum worried might have been heard back on their respective worlds. Leon shook himself lightly, the massive Leonine draconian cautiously peering down at the city within the pyramid at his feet. Cinder grinned, briefly looking to his Prince who nodded and laughed lightly as Cinder then raced off toward the aforementioned Pyramid, flame erupting around him and hiding his form as he also changed before them, spreading large lightly-feathered but otherwise leathery wings and took to the sky, Leon laughing himself.
Graveheart blinked, Blaze, Cryos and Jade gaping as Femur swore and Sternum stumbled, losing his footing as he almost collapsed watching Cinder, now a draconian version of a Firian, happily trumpeted his glee to the sky, swooping low over the pyramid as Leon turned to watch him. They could feel Leon's purring in their bones, his gaze briefly passing over them as they recovered under Pyrus and Samateus' expressing they should go inside the Pyramid to relax a bit after such a huge revelation.
"I'm guessing that is something each of us can do too? I mean, given practise and time of course." Femur asked Pyrus hesitantly, his usual demeanor cowed and almost appearing fearful. Pyrus raised a brow, as he understood Femur was completely unsettled and concerned, finding he worried more for Pyrus and their future because of Leon, not feeling reassured at all by the displays of power. Jade, Graveheart, Sternum and Cryos had similar concerns, but were more relaxed in their trust of this outsider thanks to Samateus' closeness to him.
"Probably? I mean, I've not really asked about that, though because it's only really practised by specific family bloodlines, it might be harder for those who aren't familiar with it. Like psionics, for example, Zuma has been talking with us, but most Zumahim don't talk to us or other species, because they don't use words that we would understand." Pyrus explained, leading the others into the pyramid, the stone portcullis opening thanks to a pair of Zumahim opening it for them. Zuma was the first to quickly trot over to greet them, eyes aglow as she blinked almost comically at Pyrus for a moment before he nodded to reassure her that he was the young Prince she had known since Sand joined the alliance. Zera reassured her friend that Pyrus had been with the maker, Zuma quickly offering a bow to him which Pyrus blushed and tried to wave off. "Please Zuma, there's no need for that. We're all friends here, even he doesn't like honorifics and formality most of the time."
Before Zuma could respond, Leon leaned down and appeared to melt into his smaller form as he landed near the group slowly making their way up to the palasade where the teleport pad sat. Jade raised a brow, shaking her head as Leon lightly padded over the symbol on the floor, one he knew well and had incorporated as a callback to himself and his Eternal existence.
"We couldn't get it working again, too much sand inside, or so we figured. You also didn't make it very easy on us to fix your tech." Jade mused aloud, eyeing Cryos and Graveheart as the two with Sternum and Femur watched Leon expectantly, Blaze and Flare in awe and still watching Cinder flying above happily. Leon simply grinned at her, stepped off the circle of the pad, and chittered a command. The circular platform then lurched up a handwidth before slowly rising further from the ground, the plate, now shown as a top to a much larger mechanism, now towering another meter over the Feline maker as he moved forward to inspect the array of spiralling crystals around the center shaft supporting the plate. Stopping close to Jade, he motioned to two crystals near the top of the plate, each were fairly uniform in shape, size, amber colour and faceting, however the two he pointed out shone with a sickly green-black colouration.
"Damaged sensor crystals. So it would have worked, however the pad was not able to register anyone walking on it. Possibly a bit of damage caused when attempts were made to figure it out in my absence." Leon then summoned the two crystals to him, using one of the glass orbs he had transmuted from sand to bolster and repair the two damaged crystals which, when returned to their housing, regained their brilliant amber colouration. He chittered another command, flicked an ear at the single tone response, frowned, and looked to Zuma, who straightened up and stiffened.
"There is a tunnel breaching the primary shell of the engine, was that how you gained access?" Leon asked, Zuma nodding and Zera stepping forward to explain, Leon's ears swivelling forward and eyes more curious than concerned or accusatory, which helped Jade and some of the others relax their own apprehension around the ancient being.
"They hid it for a long time from the Sunians, Zuma took me down when the Beast planet was really close to devouring Planet Sand. It was the only way I could get in to talk to the computer." Zera explained, Leon smiling and nodding.
"Clever. Though I would like to see what was done with the panelling and such that was removed, we can deal with that another time. There aren't any Zumahim in that tunnel now, are there?" Zuma shook her head at Leon's question, expressing that they had only two guards there now, at its entrance, where it remained surrounded by the rest of the Sand-kin homes. "Good." Leon turned and chittered at the machinery again, the tone sounding again. "Acknowledged system compromise, initiate transmutation repair, continue on course with Alpha two through four." Leon frowned, the tone sounding again. "Voice Override. Leon Lambda Six."
"Acknowledged, Administration Override accepted. Warning, Transmutation core compromised. Unable to restore missing shell plating, suggest temporary shutdown of engine to facilitate." The monotone voice of the computer chimed, even Zuma now able to hear it in her head. Leon frowned.
"Negative, engine shutdown not possible at this time. Engage temporary location shield to reinforce location of missing plating." Leon sighed, crossing his arms and frowning, ears flattening back as he thought deeply for a moment. "Computer, begin diagnostics, send to Obsidian Flare and begin data log upload of all entries, include transmutation requirements and quantities. Lower Inifinity Pad." Leon then stepped away from the machinery which lowered obediently to its natural state, the Computer announcing an affirmative before going silent again. Pyrus' smile seemed to dissipate as he watched and listened to what Leon was doing, the others watching on in different levels of shock, awe and concern with just how much their Maker could do beyond what they had been able to.
"Tekla would have a field day with this." Graveheart muttered, somewhat saddened that she was not with their party and experiencing all of this firsthand. Pyrus and Samateus both chuckled, Khilseith taking the initiative to step forward and bow lightly to Leon before speaking more to Graveheart from the other side of their semi-circle of leaders and friends, ringed by Zumahim and a party of Sunians joining them happily.
"Empress Tekla has been absolutely devouring the information we have available on the Dark Star, she's not missing out, I assure you." Khilseith announced, Leon flicking an ear and eyeing him.
"You still sound so much like Nathaniel, it's eerie. Tell me, how much has Sairyllia been able to tweak the treatments?" Leon asked Khilseith pointedly, who paled and sighed.
"Not enough, the inhalers help him, but still have yet to even halt the progression, we've been using nanites to get rid of the damaged tissues while he rests until now."
"Isopod tech?"
"Yes, like the ones used on the Taal." Khilseith raised a brow. "Should we not have?"
"No, I'm glad you did. Keeps better tabs, wait, why has it not engaged to heal him then?" Leon almost snarled, Pyrus developing a frown as he listened.
"It's not designed with regen nanites, last time we tried them they caused abnormal growths because of the damaged genetic structure causing the issue in the first place." Khilseith frowned, shaking his head. "I get that you've been asleep for some time, but this is nothing new Leon." Leon straightened up, feathers puffing lightly as he did recall the exact situation in which they had attempted to use regenerative nanite tech on Xerxes in order to treat the illness he, Molostroi and Leon's sister all suffered from. Leon lightly scrubbed a hand over his face, offering a sheepish yet toothy smile.
"You're right, my goodness, apologies. Proof that even I am not infallible." Leon joked, meeting the gaze of the others cautiously, before finally turning to the bowing Sunian, Ramset, who had remained near the stairs and platform, but not approached. The Sunians rose and backed away from their leader as Leon padded down, moving to crouch before ramset, and gently leaned down to lift Ramset's gaze. "You have changed a great deal, when was the last time your kin flew with the Sunwings?"
"Never, to my knowledge." Ramset stuttered, slowly moving to rise as Leon also stood up normally.
**He is correct.** Zuma affirmed, Leon looking over them all sadly. **The shifters are few now, fewer still have been able to continue to spread their wings.** Leon almost appeared in shock, looking to Pyrus who shrugged. Leons wings visibly drooped, even his tail almost touching the ground as he crossed his arms lightly, one hand lightly scratching his chin as he thought over a course of action, saw the many gathered Sunians and Zumahim, and turned to Zuma again.
"So much simply allowed to be forgotten, time to begin to change that. Zuma, as the chosen leader of your kin, who amongst your number may be willing to share such?" He asked, almost expectantly, glancing up at Cinder, still in his draconic form, perched atop the pyramid where Leon had been earlier. Soon, before Zuma could respond, a nearly overwhelming buzzing noise filled the air as several large furred shapes rose over the edge of the walls of the pyramid city and another moved to hover overhead, Cinder verbally making an exclaim of curious alarm. Six large, three-taloned paws slammed down on the platform behind Leon, supporting a body obscured mainly by thick brown fur and suspended above by fragile appearing dragonfly-like wings that moved faster than the eye could track when in flight, and folded neatly back along the darker grey carapace that peeked through the fur along its back.
Matching the insectoid form, its large angular head sported a sideways mouth, compared to the usual of most species, that opened as though made of multiple parts, working cautiously as two smaller limbs alongside its head unfurled and gently reached toward the feline appearing ancient, who simply smiled as it chittered at him.
"Yes, it is good to see you as well. Though I had hoped you and your kin would continue as I had tasked." Leon responded, moving to gently rest his palm against the almost blade-like forelimb of the great being. Leon laughed lightly when it chittered at him. "The fault is mine. I should have checked in regularly, on all my worlds. Your sister planet Jungle has a legacy seed with the Boneans, which I have offered to rehome, however I want to ensure that you and the Sunians are on the right track."
While distracted by the appearance of what was openly assumed to be a draconian version of a Zumahim, Graveheart took the opportunity to gently pull Pyrus aside, the Firian almost appearing hurt at first, but offered a knowing smile before his friend could say a word.
"You know what I'm about to say already, so why am I even saying anything." Graveheart almost groaned, gently palming his face as he closed his eyes and tried to calm his frayed nerves. Pyrus gently rested a hand on his shoulder, keeping it there as Graveheart's arms fell to across his chest.
"No, I don't have to read your thoughts to know what this is about." Pyrus openly admitting that he had not preemptively done so had Graveheart questioning his own instincts. However, instead of interrupting, he simply nodded for Pyrus to continue. "Dad woke up during the efforts to try and keep him alive." Pyrus' brief pause had Gravehearts eyes wide. "I heard him, wasn't sure if I was imagining it at first, but he told me I had to wake up Leon by drawing the Blade, and Zera saw it. She was right there, that's why she had my staff. I had to release my hold on it to draw the blade, but still I hesitated. Who knows how many died in that few seconds of hesitance. My fault. I should have done it sooner, we would have had his help sooner, but you and I both know, this is just the beginning of things. We are so far out of our depth, knowing about Deities and Avatars and the Corrupted Void that the Beast came from has so much worse things waiting for us, can you blame me for believing him? For just giving me my dad back, that's all I wanted. But I've got more than that to think about, and so do you." Pyrus paused again, taking in a deep breath to calm himself as he shook lightly at the flash of memory of when he had first seen his dad buried, and was infuriated at the idea of having to do it again. Graveheart gaped, taken aback by the admission and emotion in Pyrus' words, he uncrossed his arms and moved his hand to mirror Pyrus' on the shoulder of the young Prince.
"Sorry, I just can't see you being taken advantage of again. I still want to punch a certain General in the face on occasion, but am glad he's redeemed himself... If you trust Leon, I'll trust your judgement. But if you ever have second thoughts..." Graveheart chuckled lightly, Pyrus offering a return smile and nod, motioning lightly for them to return to the group, as more of the draconic Zumahim landed around the pyramid and walls, some returning to their bipedal forms, others remaining in their draconic ones. Jade gently punched Gravehearts arm, frowning at him until he shook his head lightly at her and smiled, Pyrus moving to gently nudge Leon who had continued his conversation with the elder Zumahim.
"Hmm? Oh, was I on a tangent? Apologies. If you are all doing well with relearning your heritage as you have been, there is much more I need to show and explain to your allies." Leon sheepishly grinned at Pyrus who smirked knowingly as the Leonine ancient turned to Ramset and Zuma, both bowing.
"No, we are working well together, and knowing that you are awake and have returned we have more reason to strive to better ourselves. We are sorry we have failed you." Ramset held his bow, lightly clinging to the inside of his armour as he did so, Leon gently using the end of his tail to encourage him to stand once more.
"Nonsense, you have not failed me, please don't say that again. For now, I believe my feathered Firian friend up there would like to remain to sunbathe a while?" Leon looked up at Cinder who flared his headfeathers and spines before trilling and lightly making a show of spreading his wings to catch the sun.