The stars shone brilliantly around master Aquila and I as we zoomed toward the Observatory. The nearer we got home, the more nervous I became. From the look on his face, master Aquila could feel it too - the sudden urgency to make it back. Everyone had been saying it was time for the holy Fyggs to bloom, and between the sighting of the Starflight Express and the pile of Benevolessence I had attained, I felt our time could be very soon indeed. Before, the thought had troubled me as much as it excited me, but now I was simply swamped in anxiety.

Once inside, master Aquila wasted no time. "I have important matters to discuss with Apus Major. Please, excuse me." He said before rushing off towards the Great Hall.

Well, at least he said please this time.

Finding it strange there was no Deneb or any other gate keeper on duty to greet us, I was still unable to shake my apprehension. I decided that before I took the rest of the Benevolessence up to Yggdrasil, I would look for my brother once more in hopes of showing him the crystal I had received from the lost spirit. It may very well be the last offering ever made to Yggdrasil, and I would not let Gallus ascend without experiencing the feelings within the stone for himself. And besides, perhaps his infectiously cheery attitude would put me at ease.

As I made my way up the stairs and off towards the library, I realized that the entire Observatory was unusually bare. That vibrating hum of excitement from before hadn't dissipated, but there were noticeably less Celestrians about. Without the need for deep sleep or food, it was rare to find the halls of the Observatory so empty. Where had everyone gone?

Nearly running now, I found Columba in the back of the library by her desk, her thick mauve hair pulled back revealing the sad expression on her face. She was looking out the window, her gaze fixed on the stars sharing our skies.

Seeing her this way took me a bit off guard. Like master Aquila, she always projected a particular attitude that you could never get a peek behind. Aquila was stoic and cold, while she was always annoyingly playful and chirpy. Now, however, she had a distinct heaviness about her. I thought of leaving her be, but I had to find Gallus. Besides, I still had no clue what was going on here.

"Oh, hello there Altairis. I forgot you were still down in the Protectorate. . ." Columba said with dull surprise. I asked her what had happened while I was away.

"Soon an envoy will arrive to return us all to the Realm of the Almighty. Yggdrasil is aquiver with power and everyone has made their way up to gaze upon Her at the moment of deliverance."

I frowned. I was certain that was the case, yet I still felt scared. "So soon? . . .You do not look particularly pleased about it yourself."

Columba sighed and waited a moment before replying, her voice etched with either regret or longing, I could not tell. "I cannot help but think what of Corvus? He is still not returned to us. . . Is he doomed never to return. . . ?" Her voice broke and she cleared her throat, no doubt holding back tears. "But I speak of forbidden things. Please, pretend you heard nothing. It is merely talk of matter centuries since put to rest."

I went to the window and stood beside her, feigning interest in the stars. "It does not seem very put to rest to me." I said as gently as I knew how.

She laughed bitterly. "Do not worry for me, young Guardian. I am not one of your precious flock." Her voice was coarse.

I winced. "I am sorry, Columba. I will let you be. But first, have you seen my brother? Is he above with the others?"

"I sent him up to Yggdrasil. I told him of your Guardianship, he was very excited."

Turning towards her, I gave Columba my best smile. "Thank you for taking such good care of him, Columba. And thank you taking care of master Aquila too. They have both grown well with your guidance as a friend."

That seemed to brighten her some as she stifled a small giggle. "Oh my. Indeed, they do need someone to keep them from running rampant, do they not? Thank you for your concern for my feelings, but it is really nothing anyone could do anything about. You should go join the others."

I nodded politely as I left her. I remembered master Aquila mentioning the name 'Corvus' when he and Columba were talking earlier, but I had no idea who he was or why it was taboo to speak about him. It sounded as if he had gone missing in the Protectorate and therefore was causing Columba a great deal of personal pain. . . was that why master Aquila brought him up when he spoke of me? Was he afraid I would be lost to him just as this Corvus was lost to Columba? Who was this Celestrian even?

My thoughts were quickly silenced as I made my way through the barren Great Hall and up toward the World Tree. That's where I found them; the entire stairway and every surrounding platform was packed with Celestrians and even more alighted in the sky, looking on towards an intensely glowing Yggdrasil. Somewhere I would find my family.

As I searched, I saw both expressions of awe and faces blanketed with trepidation, it seemed no one could make up their mind on what was about to happen. No one really knew what the ascension would be like, after all, and the people were growing impatient waiting for me to begin. I was the last Guardian left to make an offering, But I couldn't give up the Benevolessence without finding Gallus first, not until I -

"Siiiiiiiiis!" Screamed a silvery-light male voice.

As soon as I turned towards the familiar sound, a young boy with a mane of thick indigo hair tackled me into a hug, nearly sending me over the side of the Observatory.

"Gallus!" I gasped, willing the air back into my lungs. "You are getting far too strong for my liking. You almost sent me plummeting into the Protectorate!" I teased before planting a kiss on the top of his head, a gesture I'd seen human mothers do to their young children many times. It felt oddly natural.

Gallus looked up at me with golden eyes shining. "Ha! I am getting bigger! And better! And, and badder everyday! No seriously, check me out, I grew a quarter of an inch since you left!" He exclaimed, still holding tight to my waist.

"I see! You have definitely grown in my absence. I hardly even recognize you. . . In fact, I am not convinced you even are my brother! If you are the real Gallus, tell me why I arrived here." I said, putting my hands on my hips in mock skepticism.

Gallus let go and mimicked my pose, his tiny fists nearly hidden within the thick fabric of his fledgling robes. "Too easy! You came back from slaying thousands of monsters in the name of the Almighty. Shaa! Shing! Augh!" He said as he pretended to butcher hordes of imaginary monsters. "I mean, that is what Guardians do, right?"

I couldn't contain my laughter. "Oh Gallus, you are far too hot-blooded for a library clerk. Or for your own good, you know that? It is. . . very un-Celestrian of you." I wasn't about to admit I spent the greater portion of my day in Angel Falls cleaning up horse muck rather than fending off a mass of enemies. Saying that out loud would break both of our hearts.

"Psshaw! Being all calm and reserved is for lame old geezers like Aquila, not a rad guy like myself!" He proudly proclaimed.

He was lucky my master was not within earshot of that particular remark. It was then I was struck with an idea. "Heh! Alright Mr. Rad-Guy, how would you like to come offer some Benevolessence to Yggdrasil with me?" I said, holding out the largest of the glowing crystals.

His eyes grew wide like saucers. "Ooooooh! Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!"

I grinned. "Alright. Hold my hand, okay?"

Gallus complied and the two of us made our way up the final set of stairs to Yggdrasil together, hand in hand, that feeling of anxiety diffusing at his touch.

Once we got to the meadow, I noticed both of my old masters standing before us, each grinning ear to ear, wings aquiver in anticipation and joy.

"Well met, Altairis!" Aquila practically sung. "Truly, you have chosen a fortuitous moment to join us. Ah? And young Gallus too."

I squeezed my brothers hand reassuringly. "I hope it was okay I brought him here. I did not want us to journey to the Realm of the Almighty without him experiencing the offering of Benevolessence at least once."

Aquila looked to Apus Major who admitted to having no qualms about the idea, and the two of them invited Gallus to join me in the offering.

Slowly, I lead my brother through the small meadow and up to Yggdrasil's base, letting his big eyes wander over all the scenery. Once we were beneath Her boughs, I knelt next to him to make our heights more even. Gathering the crystals in both of our hands, feeling the intense mix of all the thankful emotions of my flock, I asked if he was ready.

"Are you kidding? This is about to be the greatest moment of my life! . . .Thanks sis."

Simply smiling in return, I guided our hands aloft and, as before, the Benevolessence glided safely from our hands, burst forth in flame, and was absorbed in a great show of light. Only this time I watched my little brother rather than Yggdrasil.

Seeing his face light up was the greater of the two sights.

After Yggdrasil's luminosity died down, things began to change from before. The air no longer thickened and engulfed us, instead She suddenly bore fruit - massive and golden. I could hear rejoicing from all around me, as well as Gallus' and my own enamored gasp. They were truly striking.

"Behold! The sacred Fyggs bloom!" Apus Major shouted, his voice brimming with such delight it made him sound like a child.

Overhead a great horn sounded and the Starflight Express came gliding towards us in all of its radiant glory. When it lit up the sky above us before, it looked like an exquisite shooting star but seeing it so closely, it was a truly intricate work of art. Our chariot awaits us.

"And the celestial chariot appears. . . Praise be! All is as it was foretold." I heard the voices cry out.

It was a moment of complete triumph, at long last all that we Celestrians had worked towards had come to fruition. I gazed thoughtfully at the Starflight Express and wondered how I could ever have been sad to see this day come.

I felt Gallus tug on my sleeve. "Hey sis, you, Deneb and I will still be together when we enter the Realm of the Almighty, right? There is nowhere I want to go if it means we no longer get to live with each other."

I smiled and ruffled his hair affectionately. "I am sure of it, Gallus. It would take a greater power than the Almighty to separate me from you."

As soon as I had finished my sentence, a giant bolt of violet light burst forth from below and thundered into the Starflight Express. The impact blew it apart and sent its still-glowing carriages flying out in all directions. I heard the screams of Celestrians abruptly cut short by the force of the celestial chariot crushing them as they plummeted towards the ground.

Then there was complete and utter silence. What had just happened?

Gallus clung to me and I returned his hold. Then it begun. Bolt after bolt of searing violet light crashed through the Observatory. I felt the earth shift beneath us as parts of the island fell. Rock splintered and cracked. Celestrians fled in every direction, some getting caught in the explosions of debris and others caught in the beams of light, leaving no trace of themselves as the beams receded. There was nowhere for us to run.

I could feel Gallus shaking in my arms as the assault continued, and all I could do is tighten my grip on him. I tried to cover his ears so he couldn't hear all the screams but they were a symphony around us. Then another wave of attacks, this time ripping through the meadow itself and tearing my little brother from my arms.

"Altairis!" He screamed as the energy from the closest bolt flung him away from me.

"Hold on! I'm coming!" I shouted over the sound of all the other panicked cries. Then another light came, as thick as Yggdrasil herself, and held its place, blowing apart the monuments surrounding Her and knocking Aquila, Apus Major and myself back.

I clung to a piece of the newly made rubble as the pulsating lightning threatening to blow us away for good. I looked around wildly for Gallus, but I couldn't see him anymore.

"Gallus!" I screamed, but I could barely hear myself over the death cries and chaos around me. Where was he?

Master Aquila and Apus Major were both just barely holding their ground, and though I could see them speaking, I couldn't hear what was being said. I had a feeling his words mirrored my own thoughts though. Like why was this happening? Had we been deceived? Just how many of us had just died?

I felt my grip on the ruins weaken as the bolts energy intensified. Then suddenly I felt a sharp, searing feeling stab through me, dimming everything else and ushering an unbidden scream from my lips as the wings on my back begun to tear away from my skin.

Was this. . . pain?

As the light convulsed with another wave of energy, I lost my hold to the ground and felt myself begin to fly upwards. I saw master Aquila's despaired face through the quickening dark and reached out towards him. I could vaguely hear him scream my name and see his strong arm reach out toward me, but before I knew it, I was hurtling through the air and everything seemed so very far away.

I tried to move my wings but they would not listen and soon the pain became too much. The last thing I remembered before meeting the darkness was my own bloodied feathers flying out in front of me and the promise I made to my younger brother that I knew now I could not keep.