Okay, so this is officially the longest chapter I have ever written for any story. I thought about breaking it up, but in the end I felt it needed to stay together. As usual thanks to kbeth82 for the wonderful reviews. Also, so excited this story has gotten over 1300 views which is shocking since Roswell is such an old world so I didn't expect that. Also, with this chapter I have officially written over 400,000 words in fanfic! Royal child is almost at 100,000 on its own. Crazy! But super cool.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one. I had so much fun writing it.
BE WARNED this chapter is close to M. Not a full out lemon at all because I sort of promised myself I would not go there in this story, but it's as close as we'll probably get. If I really feel the need to write a lemon for this, I'll do it as an outtake at some point. Well, have fun reading and let me know what you think.
Granilith
He's groggy but rested and filled with this strange sense of safety and warmth that he's never quite experienced when waking. Then he feels… Iz. She's laying with her head on his shoulder and her hand on his chest intertwined with his. The memories from the previous day come to him and he can't help the smile on his face. He feels her move.
"Hey," he says.
She looks up at him, remembering the day before. "Hey. Merry Christmas," she says then kisses his cheek.
"Merry Christmas. What is that?" he asks, hearing the roar of an engine as if it was right in the house. He begins to move worried they're being attacked. This place has an alarm system, but aliens can break into those easily, he knows from experience and the past two days he has not been his regular paranoid self. God dammit, how did these girls get him wrapped up in all this Christmas crap?
"No, don't," she says. "Let me, please." He looks at her confused. "The noise is for me, well us."
"What are you talking about?"
"Trust me. Just get changed and meet me downstairs, please," she asks, sitting up and looking at him with eyes that beg him to do as she says. She kisses his cheek again and gets up.
"Fine," he answers. He goes to his room, changes quickly, brushes his teeth, and then heads down only to see the living room empty.
"Isabel!" he says, worried.
"In here!" she calls from the kitchen, she's right by the door that leads to the garage. He goes after her and then sees it next to Isabel who is all made up but still wearing pajamas. His eyes get big and he doesn't know what to say.
"Merry Christmas." He stares at her stunned. "It's the same kind we rode that day. Kyle made me go see at least twenty and I owed him after making him get a bike license so we could get it out of the lot. He tried to get me to buy a different one, but you liked the Kawasaki. Right?"
"Yeah. But… I promised Tess most of the savings for the down payment of the house. I didn't know… shit."
She smiles. "It's not a problem. See I discovered I could do this thing that makes money a non-issue." She shows him a one-dollar bill and then turns it into a hundred and explains how that happened. "So, I paid for the bike with cash. Seemed to make sense instead of getting another car. It's used so it should not raise suspicions, but -"
She never finishes her sentence as she's silenced by his lips. The kiss is fierce and she returns it with just as much passion. That morning they learn what it feels like to glimpse into each other's souls. It's not necessarily physical, their clothes stay on and their hands remain in somewhat respectable places. It's an openness and special trust, an equal trade of glows and emotions and more. Their contact makes her red and him gold and behind their eyelids they see stars and moons, fire and flowers, the desert, and a baby that glows like a rainbow.
They test ride the bike around town for a while. She insists on stopping to say thanks to Kyle and Tess once she explains that they were the key to her gift. Later they take the Montero to the pod chamber and spend the afternoon with Adam. Isabel has been stashing presents into the cave for what feels like forever and she brings more today. Thank heavens she couldn't fit a tree in Adam's chamber on top of all the toys and crap she has already put in there. Michael is sure she would have made him get one if it was a possibility. Crazy.
Their time together is quiet but happy. Isabel brought leftovers from the night before and hot chocolate and alien cookies. She makes Michael open half of the presents she got for Adam. He doesn't really get how them opening presents and showing them to the baby in the pod makes any sense, but whatever. She is so excited about the whole thing that he just goes with it. So, they unwrap clothes and blankets and toys and books. Then he admits he got one present himself. He gives it to Isabel, who opens it and just laughs at the kid books.
"Really Michael?"
"After all the Christmas crap I just dealt with, I need the Grinch and Scrooge or I might go insane."
"They make Christmas great in the end, you know?"
"Yeah whatever, they lose their fight against the madness, minor detail. It's the thought that counts."
She laughs at him and kisses him softly. "You're full of surprises."
They read Adam a few books as usual, including the ones Michael brought. Then they get ready to leave since they promised the Evanses that they would stop by for Christmas dinner. Isabel makes a fuss about saying bye to Adam.
"We'll be back tomorrow," Michael says as they leave the small chamber and crawl into the larger part of the cave.
"I know. I just… ever since the nightmares with Kivar I don't like leaving him."
"I get it. I just want to put him in a bubble and keep him safe."
"He is in a bubble. That's what's weird. We've worked so hard to get him out so we can be with him, but now… I'm so scared Michael. What if getting him out puts him in danger?"
"We can't keep him in there forever, Iz. We'll find a way to protect him."
"And then what? What if… what if he has to fulfill the destiny Larek talked about? What if he has to fight? I can't… I can't imagine..."
"Isabel, stop. I… I just want to worry about hatching him and getting him to be safe in the new house and… if he has to fulfill that destiny we'll worry about it when it comes okay. If he has to fight, I will too, I'll fight right beside him."
She hugs him tightly and he kisses her forehead. "Me too." They hold each other for a while then she speaks again. "I forgot to tell him we're dating," she says. He lets out a small laugh. "We are, right? Dating?"
"Yeah," he answers. "And I think if he can actually understand dating then he got it from you being all over me."
"I'm not -" he quiets her with his lips.
An hour later they have dinner with her parents and though everyone seems happy and normal, Isabel can sense the questions. She can see them in Max's eyes and knows they will have to talk soon. And she's sure that Michael is not oblivious. He has kept a bit more distance between them since they got here. She's both thankful and mad about it. Honestly, she likes the small touches they've shared all day and… the kisses and everything else. Why should they hide that they're together now?
The three of them and Mr. and Mrs. Evans sit around the tree and open gifts. Isabel still bought some for her parents even though she hadn't planned to be here. She was going to give them to Max, but it's nice to give them in person. Funnily enough the person with the most gifts is Adam.
"Max, would you help us bring these to the car?" Isabel asks.
"Sure."
Once they are outside and put everything in the car, they stand in the yard.
"Alright Maxwell, go for it," Michael says.
Max just looks from his friend to his sister.
"Max, I know what you're thinking," she says softly.
"Then tell me because I'm not sure what to think." He looks at her with sincerity. They're quiet for a little while then he looks at Isabel and speaks again. "I think I get why you feel as if you have to be together, but-"
"No Max, I don't have to be with Michael. I want to." Michael looks at her and seems happy with her answer.
Max turns to him. "You want this too?"
"I do," he says defiantly.
"But you never did until you had those dreams and heard about destiny and found Adam and-"
"And until then I thought she was my sister!"
"I guess… it's just hard for me to understand how you two can just act on dreamed feelings out of the blue."
"They're not dream feelings. Don't you feel anything for Tess? Anything real?" Michael argues. Max is quiet and sighs. "Do you?"
"I don't know!" he answers with anger. "I don't know anything anymore."
Isabel closes her eyes. "Max… what Michael and do...it doesn't change things for you or Liz or Tess."
"This isn't about that."
"Yes it is," Michael argues.
"It's not. I just don't want you two to get hurt by pursuing something simply because you think you have to. You are my best friend and my sister and this thing between you suddenly just happens, so I worry."
"Max, no one worries about this more than I do." Michael looks let down by her words, so she continues quickly. "But we all know this isn't sudden. I didn't just wake up yesterday thinking, oh, Michael's my destiny? Let me kiss him in front of all the people we care about and then make out with him until we go to sleep."
"I didn't need to know that much," Max says. Michael smirks at his friends disturbed face.
"Boys. Anyway, I've thought about this for a while now... and I've had these feelings and it isn't about the dreams or the book or Adam or Tess and my mother telling me it's my destiny." Michael takes her hand and gently squeezes it. "Yesterday, when we kissed I… I realized that these feelings are mine and they've been growing inside me for I don't even know how long and that I needed to decide what to do about them. No one is forcing me into anything. I decided, Max. I decided that... if Michael wanted to try then I would go for it. And here we are and I'm… happy."
Michael looks at her with admiration and for the first time in his life he truly means it when he says, "I'm happy too." There is no sarcasm or anger behind the words. Today he is happy.
"Max, can you be happy for us? Please," she asks. Michael looks at his friend and scowls at him. Max better give her the right answer or else.
"I guess… I just… I hope you two mean it. That you are really doing this for you not the book or the baby or Rath and Vilandra."
"We're not them," Michael counters sternly. "I know what you're saying, but what I feel is for Isabel, not some alien princess I've never met, just Isabel. Do you get that?"
"Surprisingly, I think I do… I… this is weird for me, but I… I wish you the best."
Isabel smiles and moves to hug Max. "Thank you. I… having you on our side… it means the world to me."
"I'm always on your side. You're my sister."
A couple of weeks pass and the group faces a new kind of normal. Isabel works more than before and she seems happy about the freedom she has not being in school. She was tired of the looks that classmates gave her when they saw her fake growing stomach. She doesn't really get many of those looks now that she's out in the real world. She's realized people assume she's older and she's okay with that. Michael on the other hand is restless. He's sick of school and wants to work more and spend more time with Adam and Isabel and make sure they are safe. He worries about Kivar and all their enemies and still keeps track of the girls' location as much as possible.
Isabel and Michael's relationship develops easily. It's almost like it has always been them together and in a way, it had been. They are still best friends, but now they're just... more and it's good. She gets him to smile even as he grumbles about her organizing everything. He makes her feel safe even when she argues that she's perfectly capable of taking care of herself. And even though their kissing often escalates into more than they plan they don't dare to go all the way. Just the idea that she could get pregnant with another baby freaks them out enough that even though they now share a bed every night, they never kiss there to avoid temptation. Kissing is always kept downstairs, not that he hasn't thought about doing things downstairs that would make people blush… but just sleeping next to her is hard enough without having the experience of doing more.
Michael, Max, Liz, Kyle and Alex are in the school cafeteria eating lunch.
"Hey," Tess says.
"Hi."
"You look like you want to make something explode."
"I'm fine." She raises an eyebrow at him. "Just school… what a joke."
"Stop whining," Maria argues as she sits next to Michael.
"She's right. You'll be done in a few months. But we're stuck here for another year," Tess adds.
"You could try to finish early."
"Nah. It's fine."
"Might also be suspicious if suddenly all the… Czechs... leave school," Kyle says.
"Whatever," he answers.
"Always eloquent, Space Boy."
"Wish Isabel was around, pretty sure she could put a smile on that face," Tess teases.
"Wonder how she does that?" Kyle says with a smirk.
"Don't start."
"Oh… come on. Is she like super hot in the -"
"That's my sister," Max interrupts.
"You're no fun, Evans."
"Don't talk about Isabel that way," Michael adds.
"Protective much?" Kyle says. Michael glares at him.
"Anyway," Maria says. "Are you guys coming to the concert?"
"What concert?" Tess asks.
"The one next month. Saturday right before Valentine's day. Didn't Alex tell you about it?"
Tess suddenly looks sad. "Umm… no." She looks at Alex.
"Sorry, must have forgotten," he says.
"Well we're playing. Liz helped us write some lyrics so she'll be close to the stage to get some credit when we call on her."
"Maria," Liz says.
"Would you relax? Live a little. Have some fun. Stand up and let people clap and smile. You can't let your best friends down."
"Yeah, you have to come," Alex says, looking less enthused than Maria, but like he means it.
"I thought you might have enough with Brody and everyone else there," Liz says.
"Brody is coming?" Michael asks.
"Liz!" Maria admonishes.
"Sorry?"
"So, you're hanging onto the older man," Tess says teasingly.
"It's none of your business."
"Actually, it is since he's the way to our "Czech from way up there" as you called him."
Maria glares at her.
"I thought it was just Sydney, but… you actually like him," Michael states, sounding bewildered.
"Space boy," she says, in a warning tone. He shrugs and lets it be.
"Gotta go," Alex says.
"Wait, I thought… could we meet after school? To look into the book again," Tess asks.
"I… I can't. I have to practice. You know with the band and all."
"We're not meeting until six, right?" Maria asks, worried. "I'm working from three to five thirty."
"You're fine. I have to practice my solos. See you at six," he says and leaves. Tess looks obviously upset.
"I can help again," Max says.
She smiles at him. "Okay. My place?"
"Yeah."
Liz stands. "I gotta go check on some lab samples for my Advance Bio. See you guys."
At the Valenti's, Max and Tess sit next to each other looking at a computer monitor.
"I think we're at the point where most of the translation of the two remaining parts is done, but we still can't really understand them. Maybe it's like the section about Adam. We get most of it but there's some keyword we're missing and these won't completely make sense until we have it," Tess says.
"Yeah, I think you're right. But at least we know the twirl part is about us and a plan of some sort and that unnamed moon. And the diamond pages are about some type of device," Max. Tess looks at him nervously. "What?"
"Promise you won't get upset."
"I won't."
"Max, I think… I think the diamond pages tell us about a way to go home. I think it's a device to get us home." Max is quiet. "Sorry, I knew that would upset you."
"Please don't get like that."
"Like what?"
"Like… defensive. I… I know I don't get excited like Alex does when he's with us, but it's not because I'm against learning about us or maybe going home."
"Then why?"
"Because I worry. Tess, Earth is all I've ever known. We don't know enough about our planet and the war and what we will find if we go there. We just have some flashes and what Larek and Courtney have told us. We don't even know who wrote this book. Nasedo gave it to you. What if he put things there as a trap? What if -"
"They are not lies, Max. I know Nasedo gave it to me and I'm not sure if he could read it or not, but… I think… I think we wrote it." He looks at her, waiting for her to elaborate. "I just… I remember these moments when you and I… we would just sit and read and write and talk about the galaxy and things that were happening and… never mind."
He takes her hand. "You want to remember more, don't you?"
"You know I do, but… Michael and Iz are really busy lately, even when they're not working or with Adam, they're..."
"Busy with each other," he says with a grimace.
She smiles at him. He's done well about the Michael Isabel thing but still can't see them kiss and stuff without looking grossed out. "It's okay. I'm happy for them."
"I know, but you wish they would have more time to have some retrieval sessions." She nods. "Well, that maybe hard for them, but I'm here."
"You?"
"Tess, we're friends, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then I'll help you and we can learn. Look, I want to know too. I just want us to be careful and not rush into the unknown and get hurt. I can start bringing the healing stones and instead of trying more computer algorithms, I'll help you remember and maybe… maybe Larek will contact us again and we can ask him more questions. Or I can get Michael to talk to Courtney some more."
She smiles the brightest smile he has ever seen. "Thank you."
At the grocery store on a Saturday morning.
"So, what's going on between you and my brother?" Isabel asks.
"I don't know what are you talking about," Tess replies.
"Oh come on, he goes to your house almost every day. You two hang out at the Crashdown and at school and you're remembering. What's up?"
"You mean to say you have noticed that there are other mortals in this world besides Michael?"
"Don't even try. It's my turn for some payback and to get things out of you and make you uncomfortable."
"As if you could. And there's nothing going on. We're friends and he's helping me with the book and that's that." Isabel looks at her and raises an eyebrow. "What?"
"I'm not buying. Remember I asked you once if you loved my brother and you said you didn't know. So, do you know now?"
"No."
"No you don't love him or no you don't know."
"No, I don't know, okay."
"Could it be that you… oh wisdom carrier, fear destiny?"
"Shut up."
"You do. Why are you afraid? You two spend time together and enjoy it, what's the problem?"
"Don't use my words against me. And it's not the same. We… Max and I have finally made peace and become real friends. I don't want to mess that all up by thinking of destiny again. I just want to figure out the book and go home."
"You really want that, don't you? You want to go to..." Isabel lowers her voice, "Antar."
"Yes."
"You wouldn't miss it here? You don't like it here at all?"
"I do. I just… Isabel, I remember my brothers." Tess then whispers, "And I think Kivar might still have them and is hurting them."
"You haven't had any more of those dreams?"
"No. I tried what Courtney said and they stopped."
"Good."
"But that doesn't change things. Isabel, I want to go home to my family." Again, she changes her tone so only Iz can hear her. "I remember Plateia."
"Okay. Look, I'll talk to Michael. We'll help you. He's into the retrieval sessions anyway." Tess looks at her with surprise. "What?"
"Nothing."
"Tess."
"Okay, don't take this the wrong way, but… I just… I just thought that once we figured out Adam, you would not help anymore. I guess I expected that once he was on the way, you, Max and Michael would back away and leave me alone to deal with everything else."
"Tess… I told you that you are my sister. Regardless of Max or Michael, that stays true. If you need my help, you just have to ask."
"Okay. Help me go home, Isabel, please."
"I will."
"Thanks."
"Okay. But, you still haven't answered my question. Do you love my brother?"
"I have a better one for you. When are you finally gonna have sex with Michael?"
"Tess!"
Later that week at Michael and Isabel's house the royal four discuss memories.
"So, you've remembered more about Antar?" Michael questions.
"Yeah," Max answers. They look at him expectantly. "I remembered our mother and when she told me it was my time to rule," he says, looking at Isabel. "Her name was -"
"Daharia," Isabel answers.
"Yes, how?"
"I… I remembered in the summer."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Max asks.
"I… Kivar was in that memory. We were in the palace, having dinner. He… he made me uncomfortable." Michael looks at her with concern. "Nothing too bad, I just didn't know what it all meant so I didn't say anything, but it wasn't like the dreams… it was just… he would like touch me under the table and things like that." Michael looks livid. "And Rath looked something like that," Isabel says, trying to lighten the mood. "It's okay. What else, Max?"
"I… I remember saving you," he says, looking now at Michael. "You had been injured trying to protect our father. I remember a message from the General of our forces, saying he had made a mistake and the ship the King and his guards were in was compromised and driving into an ambush. That it was you who had realized that the change in magnetic fields and klatek rotation was not right and warned them. He was breaking away from the group and using himself and a few others as a diversion. He said his second was now in charge of protecting the King and acting as General for the units that were left. Then I remember arriving at this place with a red sky and blue soil. Vilandra, our mother and two other people were with me. I think our mother and father and those two people were the previous Royal four. We had an army that protected us and got there in time to save you and five others. Everyone else was dead, but I was able to heal you with my sister's help. My mother and the two other Royals were busy working on my father with a team of healers. Then I remember getting crowned and announcing my bonding for the next moon. I got the seal that was my father's that day and my mother passed her seal to Vilandra and named her hand of the Queen. The other two Royals declared that they would give up their seals to the new members of the four as soon as the King chose them. I… Vilandra and I made that oath that day, the one you two talked about before we met Larek and then… my first ruling as King was to name Rath as my second and General of our intergalactic forces. I… I was at this circle table explaining myself to a bunch of people… some had purple skin and others this green tint… and others looked like… these wormy things, anyway I explained that even if you were too young, General Tarak and my father would have wanted you in charge. That you were my age and it was my decision and it was final."
Michael nods and says. "I remembered being named General and taking the oath we talked about and another one vowing to protect the King and Princess with my life. What else have you remembered?"
"That's it."
"Tess?"
"Mostly my home, Plateia. It's different from Antar. There are these fields made of red grass and the sky is gray and the tree leaves look really deep red, almost purple and tree trunks look grayish white. There is something that looks like a huge telescope or antenna that is always there, no matter where you are in the planet, you can see it. I've also seen this large dome thing that is close to the telescope and I know it's my home. I've seen my brothers and I running around the hallways of that dome. I'm always trailing after them and I see my mother unhappy about it."
"That's it?" Isabel asks.
"No. I… remember spending time with Max, I mean Zan… we're in this place that's like a library, but different. The books look like the destiny book and we have this instrument that helps us write on the black material. I think Zan and I wrote the destiny book and sent it with us."
"Have either of you remembered anything?" Max asks.
"No. I… I haven't remembered or dreamed much lately," Isabel sees.
"Me neither," Michael adds.
"Of course you haven't, you're too busy making out," Tess teases.
"Too much information," Max says.
"Whatever," Michael answers. "Let's do this and see if we remember anything useful."
They move the center table and sit in a square around the stones, holding hands. They breathe and focus on clearing their minds. For a long time, nothing happens.
Max is relaxed, sitting between Tess and his sister. He's felt to hurt, scared and confused for so long, but the last couple of weeks have been different. There have been no alien threats, no horrible surprises leading to heartbreak or new relationships that seem reckless but he must learn to live with. He's accepted his best friend and sister together and slowly is letting go of Liz. He will always love her, but his heart is healing and he's open to whatever comes next.
He runs down ornate hallways and feels fury in a way that Max never has. He barges into a room and there she is, with wet hair and only wearing a flimsy robe that's as blue as the glow around her. He stops in his tracks and his fury is tamed as he stands stunned.
"Zan!"
"Ava," he answers, swallowing hard and sounding pathetic.
"Turn around!" she orders and he does as asked. "What in the stars! You can't just come into my chambers as you please!"
And then Max can actually feel as Zan's rage returns. "And you can't just leave the palace!"
"I am your promised, not your prisoner."
"You are the future Queen! You can't leave the palace and go into battle."
"They needed an illusionist. The two in their team are injured and with my help they won against the insurgents easily."
"That is not the point."
"And what is?"
"You are not part of the council. That mission was classified and Rath shouldn't -"
"Don't you dare put him on discipline for this! I found out about it by my own means and offered my help. He didn't want me to come, but I have my ways."
"And what kind of ways do you have with my second?"
"What are you implying?"
"Nothing!"
"This is ridiculous! I illusioned him into thinking you had given authorization. Happy now?"
Zan takes a breath and seems calmer after a few moments. He turns and sees she has a proper dress on. "Lady Ava, you can't just trick us into doing what you want."
"Maybe I wouldn't have to if you listened to me, King Zan."
"I listen to you. We talk all the time and try to be a team."
"No, you decide what we talk about and you may take my opinions, but only for simple matters of welfare and funding and the petty requests of influential clan leaders. You don't tell me about the things that matter most. You don't confide in me with even half of the information you give Lonnie."
"My sister is a crowned Princess who understands her duties. She knows her job and does it to the best of her abilities and mother says she might already be a better hand of the Queen than her predecessor."
"I know that. Vilandra is fantastic, but I can't be like her. I'm an advocate and probably know the Glannak better than you do. I made it to second class paleonar and would be a palar if I hadn't had to leave Plateia."
"That's what this is about, isn't it? You want to go home."
"No, I -"
"I didn't choose this either," he interrupts. "I never asked to be King, but it is the way of things. Our lives belong to the galaxy and all the beings in it. We ensure they can live safely and prosper. You must learn that once you take that oath it must be the first and last thing you think about with every moon and sun. Live by the oath or you will not survive being a Royal. Talk to Vilandra, she understands her duty." He looks at her and she seems to accept his words, but looks unhappy. "I… I will listen to your thoughts on strategy and the uprisings and our treaties and judgements of the Glannak after our bonding and your crowning. I may not agree with you or even be able to use your ideas when I agree, but I will listen, just not yet. Is that enough to tame your need to be a rebel?"
"I… I'm sorry."
"It's alright," he says, looking tired and walking towards the door.
"Wait! Please." He turns back to her. "I'm really sorry. I know I said that you haven't listened to me and well… I haven't really listened to you either and… maybe you're right. I… I miss my home and my family and my freedom, but I understand, Zan. I… being here is… amazing. And the work you and Vilandra and your mother and Malator and Imeltia do is… I just want to help. Does that make sense? I just… if I'm going to live here and be a part of this then… then I want to really be a part of it. I want to learn and be a good Queen."
He smiles at her. "You can be. I can see it, my lady. You just need to be patient. I've learned that there are things we cannot control and we must learn to wait until it is the right time to act."
"Alright. I… I'm sorry."
"Me too. I… I shouldn't have come in here in the way I did." She smiles at him. "But I… Lady Ava, do you realize what could have happened? You could have been injured or killed."
"That's what palars risk."
"I know," he answers. Then he meets her eyes with a look filled with admiration. "But you're no palar. You are… my Queen." He looks away from her, seeming embarrassed. She comes closer to him. "Forgive me my lady, I… that was…"
"You are my King," she says, reaching her hand out to touch his cheek.
"You don't have… I… I don't expect anything until we must -" She puts a finger on his mouth.
"I know… we'll have to… perform our duty, but… perhaps..." she says, coming closer to him.
"Perhaps…" he whispers back and then their lips meet.
Tess focuses on the device and the book symbols. What does it all mean? Where is it? Could it take her home? She wants to go. She wants her brothers. She knows they are special and they're waiting for her. She just knows.
"Ava!" he calls excitedly.
"Anquio!" she responds, running to hug him.
He laughs at them and then says, "Baby sister."
"Anlo," she says and moves to hug him. "I've missed you terribly." They look at her concerned. "Do not worry. Zan treats me like a true Queen."
"He better," says a stern female voice.
"Mama!" Ava says excitedly. Then she hugs her.
"So, the King is treating our jewel well."
"Yes, I… I didn't know that the bond could be like this. Zan… he's not just my King… he's amazing. Mama you were right, I..."
"Oh for all the stars, do not start talking about making children. I'm scarred enough remembering what you and the King looked like the day after your bonding," Anlo says.
"And you sound pathetic," Anquio adds.
"You're just jealous. You wish someone was crazy enough to bond with either of you."
"Yeah right," Anlo says.
"Whatever. You did say the Princess is taken, right?" Anquio asks.
"You fancy Vilandra?"
"Who doesn't? Come on, the male population appreciates the Vilandras of our worlds."
"Don't be gross," his sister responds. "Lonnie is my sister now and she's great."
"She looks great. Can make anyone's blood run hotter."
"Would you show a little respect?"
"Enough," their mother says. "Ava is right. You must respect their majesties and try to display some level of maturity. And you do not talk about females that way. What has gotten into you?"
"Sorry mother. I was stuck training with the General from hell for much too long. No female contact in moons and then to see the Princess, whew. Surprised half of the battalion didn't drop when she was the one that showed to pick us up."
"The General didn't seem to have a problem behaving properly," Ava counters.
"That's 'cause Rath is not normal. Bastard has to be part drone or some machine form. Or maybe he's like Anlo who we know will never bond."
"Eat dirt," Anlo says.
"I couldn't care less who you mate, brother. Anyway, the General must be into males if even the Princess can't make him twitch."
"Anquio. Respect your superior. If it wasn't for him, our troops wouldn't be as ready to defend us."
"Would too, even the Antarians don't have as many high palars. And 'the Mighty Rath' now knows it and that's thanks to us and baby sister."
"No matter. Grow up, my tol. Now, get ready for mid-meal, all of you."
"That's what you get," Ava says. "You're just sour Rath brought you down a notch when you couldn't defeat him in the contests."
"Whatever. I'm not calling you majesty, plok."
"Me neither," Anlo adds messing her hair. "Last one to the table has to clean. And that applies to Queen ploks too!" he screams and starts to run.
"You're the ploks!" Ava yells running after them.
The scene changes slightly. She walks into the middle of the dome with Anlo and Anquio. They meet an older man in there.
"Papa, what's this?" she asks, looking at the machine in front of her.
"Just the first and probably last thing I will build for this King."
"Father," she states with concern.
"Do not fret, I'm not meeting my end. Just, passing the baton."
"What?"
"Meet the soon to be head Engoal of Plateia," Anlo says, grinning.
She smiles brightly. "Congratulations!"
"Father put in a good word for me and well… no one could really find anyone better than his own son."
"You earned it, my tol."
"Yeah, yeah, Anlo is great and will take over, woohoo," Anquio says.
Their father laughs. "We each have our gifts. You're the first Palar of the planet. Take pride in your accomplishments. Only the General of the Intergalactic Forces has defeated you, my tol."
"Not for long. He'll meet his match next time he shows."
"Good luck," Ava teases.
"You're supposed to be my sister."
"I am your sister, but live in the Palace. The General eats, sleeps, works and trains, that's it. If you intend to win next time you can't go gallivanting the way you do."
"Told you he wasn't normal."
"Anyway, what is this?"
"The ultimate weapon," Anlo says.
"What?"
"It was commissioned by King Zan's father moons before his death."
"I… Zan didn't tell me…"
"I know. I asked him if I could be the one to tell you about it once he ordered us to continue."
"You knew about this?" she asks, looking at her brothers.
They nod and Anlo speaks. "I've been helping father with the built and organizing the enklatian work. Anq helps with testing the controls." Anquio looks at him with annoyance. "And he did give us good ideas for what is needed from a weapon of this sort."
"What can it do?"
Anquio speaks. "It's a transport that can travel in and out of the Galaxy faster than any other ship I've ever been in. And it can bend time, Anlo can explain that one. Most importantly, it can create a controlled field of destruction. It can hit with an accuracy that's usually only achieved if you endanger a troop of destroyers by putting them too close to target. It could save the lives of thousands of palars if used properly."
"Not properly, my tol, wisely," his father argues. "Ava, I must ask you to join your brothers and I. Help us with the device."
"Me? I know battle but not nearly as well as Anquio and I can't compare to Anlo when it comes to these designs and builds. I-"
"You, my darling, must help us decide how to control it. Ava, I fear that in the wrong hands this device would be the end of us."
"Why build it, then?"
"Because it could also be our only hope if these wars become worse. That's why I need you, my jewel. I need your wisdom and your mother's, to help us decide how we keep this machine safe for our worlds. It must only be used by the Royals."
Michael sits quietly in the square they have made around the stones. He's not sure what he wants. Truth is… for the first time since they found out about Adam, he's not sure about doing this. Maybe he's remembered enough. He looks to his left and sees Isabel. Her eyes are closed and she looks… beautiful. He has her and Adam is almost with them. Less than two months and they'll have him and be together as a… family. And right then, looking at Isabel, the flash comes.
He's in a small room with her. There are bottles of different colors stacked all around them. He sees himself speaking, but can't really understand the words. Then she's kissing him and making him stop talking. He seems lost in the kiss as if he can't get enough, but suddenly he pulls away.
"Princess."
"Tell me you feel the same way."
"This can't be."
"But -"
"But nothing," he says, taking a step away.
"I love you. I've loved you from the moment I met you and -"
"Do not say such things."
"It's true and this love keeps growing stronger. I'm so in love with you, but… love isn't true and real unless it is returned. Please tell me." She comes close to him again and takes his hand. She puts his palm up and then makes her hand glow on top of his until a bright flower is blooming and glowing between them. "I've never told anyone how I first tapped into my gift… It was the day I met you," she says, looking into his eyes. "Mother had tried to teach me how to make gazes for weeks. She explained how to focus the hope of my spirit, the shine that lives inside me, into making one simple wonder. But I didn't understand and failed every day. Then that day when I saw you… I never knew a boy that could be so intense and radiate so much… energy and willpower, all in the midst of such sadness. I… I wanted to give you all the hope and love in the universe and see if you could share some of your strength with me. I still do. I know you remember like I do."
He looks at her like she's the most incredible thing he's ever seen, but then turns away, letting the flower fall to the stone floor. "Nothing can ever happen between us. To admit to any feelings... knowing that… hurts too much."
"Rath."
"No more, your Majesty. I will not be misguided by your beauty and a few moments of weakness. I have my duty and you have yours. Bond to the Lord," he says and quickly makes it to the door.
"Coward," she says with a sad voice as a single tear streams down her face. He turns to face her with shocked eyes. No one, and he means absolutely no one has ever called him that. He stares at her. "Go ahead and run from me, General. It's what you do best." He turns away from her and leaves, closing the door behind him.
Then he gets a series of flashes that come fast, almost violently, one after the other. Rath making love with Vilandra, in a ship, on a flat rock, on sand by a beach, in a cave and finally on a bed in a really ornate room. The flashes calm and he sees a single moment of the two of them laying on a large bed. She's heavily pregnant and he's caressing her stomach.
"I'm scared," she says.
"Lonnie. I told you I'm staying as safe as possible when we are on the field."
"I know that. I just… I had this dream. We were in the blue planet and I… I lost you. I was a youngling again and Zan was with me. But you and Ava weren't there. I cried because I had lost you. I told Zan that I let go. That it was my fault and I missed you."
"It won't happen. We will defeat Kivar, Lonnie. I won't let him anywhere near you. But even if the worse comes, we'll go to the blue planet together and we'll have Adameus with us."
"But the elders said we might not remember. What if we get separated and forget all about each other?"
"Never. Look at me. I could never forget you. If the worse happens and we get sent there, even if we get separated, I will find you." Then he gets this determined look on his face. "Vilandra, I will find you and our son. In this life or the next, I'll be by your side."
Isabel sits scared of what she might remember. She does not want to remember Kivar. She has had enough with the dreams. But she will help Tess. Just focus on helping. But she can't help wondering how Vilandra and Rath could create a war. Would they even be wanted back in Antar after what they did? Would she want to go back? Would she want Adam to be back there?
She's walking in the dark through an area filled with spaceships. She's nervous and turns around constantly, pulling the dark cloak around herself to make sure no one sees her. And then her fears come true and she gets pulled to the floor roughly. She's been found. He pins her down and pulls the cloak from her face.
"Princess?"
"General." He stands and helps her get up.
"Forgive me, I -"
"It's alright. If you'll excuse me," she says, then pulls the cloak to hide her face and golden glow and moves to board the ship.
"I wasn't informed you would be on any missions. It's too close to your bonding."
"It's none of your concern."
"Where is your safety team and your crew?" She doesn't answer and begins to run up the ramp to the ship. "Princess! Vilandra!" He runs into the ship right before the door closes. "What are you doing?"
"Get out, General. This doesn't concern you."
"You are boarding a ship with no security. I am in charge of your safety." She looks at him like she could kill him. "Lonnie, please, what are you doing?"
"Don't call me Lonnie. I'm just the pampered Princess that uses her beauty to drag you into moments of weakness. Get out of my ship."
"Don't change the subject. Where are you going?"
"I order you to get out of this ship."
"You can't take this. You're not trained and need a Piako to fly it."
"Get out and watch how I fly it."
"I'm not leaving you here."
Her demeanor changes and she can't hide the despair in her eyes. "Please get out."
"Not until you explain what is going on. Did the King send you in a secret mission?"
"No, just… if you ever considered me at least a friend, if I have ever meant anything to you, then leave, please. Let me go."
"Princess?"
"Leave the ship, General. I beg you."
"I can't." She looks at him upset. "Vilandra, I know I hurt you, but I can't let you go not knowing if you'll be safe and -"
"And what? You already told me how you felt. And you were right. It was foolish for me to try to pursue… it doesn't matter. This is my chance and I must take it."
"Princess, explain what is happening and let me help you. I would do anything." She shakes her head in the negative. Then sits by what looks like a control panel and presses a button. The door of the ship opens. "Run from me, General."
"I'm not going anywhere," he states with force. Then he approaches the controls himself.
"No!" she yells.
"Tell me what's happening. Tell me why the idea of me pressing a communication request to our King, your brother, made you look like you would meet your end." She stares at him. They stay sitting for what feels like forever just looking at each other.
"You really won't leave?"
"No, I won't." She looks at him, unsure and vulnerable. He speaks again. "I never wanted to hurt you. I just… I cannot give you what you seek. You must bond with Lord Kivar or the wars will get worse. And if you refuse... you would be judged, my Princess. You could be judged and die."
"I know that, but I must go."
"Why?"
"If I tell you, would you let me go?"
"If you have good reasons, perhaps."
"That's not good enough."
"That's all you're going to get. Tell me."
"I… I can't bond with the Lord. Him and his family, they lied to us."
"What do you mean?"
"Promise that you will let me go and I'll explain everything."
"Go where?"
"I have a few friends willing to smuggle me to the ruined stars. No one will look for me there. Let me go and I will tell you everything so you can protect my brother." He looks at her like she has gone insane. "You have a duty to your King that surpasses all others, right?"
"Of course, but the stars are not safe and sending you away from your bond would be betraying the Kingdom and-"
"And keeping me here would lead to my brother's doom. Promise that you'll let me go and you'll protect Zan and Ava. Promise me."
"If you have a good argument, I might." She looks like she can't believe his words. "I am bound to protect you as I am bound to protect them. I can't let you become a fugitive that will hide in one of the most devastated areas of our system and could get killed if caught. You… you mean the world to me." She looks at him confused. "Please Vilandra, tell me what plagues you. Tell me the reason you would put yourself in such danger," he says kindly. He takes her hand in his and looks at her with pleading eyes.
"I… I thought you… you said -"
"I said what was necessary. The Lord is safe for you and I… I just want you to live and be happy, Lonnie. My life would be worthwhile if I know you are safe and happy."
"Rath…"
"Tell me."
"I… the skins… the ones that spoke to you about Lord Kivar. They were right. He can't be trusted."
"I thought you said I was wrong and -"
"I was angry, but I wondered so... I glided into his mind. I saw his plans, everything he wants from me. All this time… we've been fooled by his and his mother's tricks."
"What did you see?"
"Kivar is foremost an illusionist, might be stronger than Ava, and with mind gliding skills almost as developed as mine. He's the perfect manipulator and used that to hide how the type of strain that gives him illusionism and kinesis would not easily connect with the composition of my shine. He's not the one for me. The joining would kill my brother and the rest of the conduits like what happened to King Patriakus when he bonded Lord Gendthar and Lady Taryana in the Ratakian moons."
"The lesson from the moons… the lady almost died and her shine practically disappeared. She was never the same and the Lord never forgave himself."
"Yes. I cannot bond to him. It would kill Zan and get Kivar not just the seal of power, but the throne. And it would weaken me and make me vulnerable to any sort of attack of the mind. He would be able to use me and Ava would be the only one left standing to fight for us and find someone worthy of the seal of survival."
He looks enraged. "Tell the King!"
"I can't! I have no proof but my word about what I saw during an unapproved, covert and incredibly invasive mind glide."
"The King would believe you. You are his sister. He would take your side."
"I know. And that's what we can't have. Zan and Ava would fight the Glannak if I tell them about this. And in doing so my brother would lose the trust of many in the Council and shake his relationships with our allies. The wars will get worse soon no matter what I do. If I involve Zan, he would be weakened. I must run and take the fall for betraying my family so that he can convince the Council and our allies that he's still what's best for the Kingdom. He must be able to blame his senseless sister and maintain their support."
"You're right." She looks relieved. "But I can't let you go."
"What do you me-" Her words are cut short by his lips. She steps away from him. "What are doing?"
"I'm not going to let you go through this alone."
"But you… you have your duty and I have mine. You said so."
"My duty is to you now."
"But -"
"Lonnie. I may serve the Kingdom and your brother, but I've always served you."
"No, you can't."
"I can. And I will."
"You have your career. You've made it to the top and achieved everything you wanted. You cannot give up your entire life."
"This is not my entire life. Do you know why I became top palar of Antar and then General?" She looks at him confused. "When I saw you in that ball… all those moons ago when Zan first brought me here and I realized that you were the Princess... that the one that stole my heart before I even knew what that meant was the last Valyr female, I knew I could never be with you. You were not meant to be with a commoner. But I could become the best of me and get to protect you and those you love."
"You can't risk your life."
"I risk my life all the time. I would do it for you anyday."
"Rath, you mustn't."
"Don't you understand? Everything that I do, I do for you. Anything that is special in me, is you." She looks at him with disbelief and adoration. Then he kisses her again. It takes a long time for them to separate.
"We must go," he says, leading her to the ship's door.
"We need the ship."
"No. If we are going to do this, we'll do it right. We take the best and I'll show you how to move through the Galaxy undetected and how to fight. No one will find us, but if they do they will face a hell of a battle."
"You shouldn't do this."
"No more arguing. Nothing you say will change my mind." He kisses her again. Just one soft kiss. "Let's go."
"To the stars."
"To the stars."
Tess speaks first. "I saw my brothers. Their names are Anlo and Anquio," she says excitedly. Max smiles at her. She explains that they built the ultimate weapon and that she's sure the device described in the book is the weapon her family built.
"What did you remember?" she asks.
"I think you were a warrior and you said something about being an advocate," Max says. He explains the memory of their fight, but omits the kissing part.
"What about you two?" he says.
"I don't think we caused the war just to be together. Kivar had already planned to take over," Isabel says. Then she explains what Vilandra had discovered about Kivar and how she thought running was the best option and that Rath caught her and wouldn't let her go alone. "How about you?" she asks, looking at Michael.
"I think you're right. I saw Rath telling Vilandra that he couldn't be with her and she should bond to Kivar. But then… they were together," he says. "And then she told me she had a dream. I think she saw Earth."
"What?"
"She said she saw herself and Zan as younglings in the blue planet. That she was crying because she let go and she missed me. But I don't think that came true."
Isabel and Max look shocked. "It did," Max says. Michael looks at him confused. "When mom and dad adopted us… Izzy would cry every night. I would hold her and tell her everything was okay. But she missed you."
Max is driving and can't help but look at the blond in the passenger seat.
"What?" she asks. He pulls over and takes a deep breath. "Are you okay?"
"I… Tess… today what I said about my memories… I… I saw more."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because it's… private."
"Oh."
He turns to face her. "I think I get why Michael and Izzy sometimes keep things between them, I… this, they don't need to know."
She nods. "Alright. Do you want to tell me?" she asks tentatively.
"Yeah," he answers and takes one of her hands.
"Okay."
"I… we did argue, I just… at the end Zan… I… I was worried about what could have happened to you. I cared so much and you said it was a palar's risk."
"So, I wanted to be a palar. You told us that."
"I wasn't finished."
"Okay, finish."
"I remember that I told you that... you were no palar… you are… my Queen."
She looks at him with a mix of surprise and wonder in her eyes. "And then?"
"Then you said I was your King and you..." He uses his free hand to caress her face, the way he saw Ava do in the memory. "You touched me… like this… I didn't expect anything, but you said... perhaps..."
"Perhaps?"
"Perhaps," he answers and then kisses her.
The kiss is soft and tentative and she ends it too soon for his liking.
"I'm sorry," he says.
"It's okay. I always wondered how it would be if you kissed me."
"I kissed you before."
"I know, I meant like… you kissed me because you wanted to, not because of the alignment or my mind warps."
"And?"
"I liked it. But… I don't know if this is wise."
"Oh, I… I thought you liked me."
"I do, I like you, Max. A lot. And it's not because of destiny and the memory of Zan." He looks at her confused. "I ended the kiss because… because I don't know if you feel the same. Max, do you still love Liz?"
"I… I don't know."
"That's all I needed to know," she says and turns to look out the car window.
"Tess, I… I'm confused, but that doesn't mean that I don't have feelings for you. I think about you. A lot lately."
"Me or Ava?"
"Both. I know you're not her… but the memories… you're similar. And I'm not Zan, but I think you were right. They live inside us. But now I don't think it's them. I… these past few weeks with you. I've finally had something… something besides the sadness of missing Liz and worrying about everything. I either have the mystery of the book or the peace of just talking to you or even fun at a carnival." She smiles at him, remembering when she dragged him to a carnival since the only time she'd been was the one where they lost him to end up in the white room. She had told him she needed a better memory of those places. They still never went into the mirror maze.
"I care about you," Max says.
She nods and says, "Me too. But, I don't want to start something if there's a chance that you'd go back to Liz. I can't let you hurt me again, Max. If you do our enemies would take advantage of it. It's too risky."
"What if I let go of Liz? What if I could finally move on?"
"Then tell me. When you're sure, really one hundred percent sure, let me know."
At school Tess is heading towards the football field to pick up Kyle after practice since his car is at the shop. She walks by the bleachers and hears familiar voices, including one whose frequency in her life has been missed the past few weeks. She worries that she did something to him that made her lose his friendship. But what? Alex seemed happy to hang out with her and then suddenly started avoiding her. What happened? Maybe if she listens to the three of them for a second. What could be the harm? She hides.
"Yeah, he comes to the house most days and they sit holding hands and remembering stuff. And I heard her telling Isabel that he kissed her," Kyle answers.
"Have they found anything about the Granilith yet?" Liz asks, sounding sad.
"No. I think they would tell the group if they had."
"Okay."
"They should try to use Granilith as a keyword for the translation," Alex adds.
"They should," Liz says. "But Tess and Isabel keep trying to forget that Atlas ever happened. I doubt they'll think back to what their enemies said. How do we get them to try that as keyword without giving away what we know?"
"We don't. It would make them suspicious if we just come up with that all of a sudden, especially if it works," Alex answers.
"Maybe we should tell Maria," Kyle suggests.
"No," Liz says. "I shouldn't have told Alex to begin with. He just caught me during a moment of weakness. This is risky enough."
"I know, but Maria could pretend Brody got possessed when they were together and told her to use that keyword," Kyle counters.
"True, but Larek wasn't really forthcoming with humans. He only spoke to us because Michael ordered him to do so," Alex says. "Tess would wonder why suddenly Larek would just share. She's too intuitive."
"Yeah, we can't tell Maria."
"Fine," Kyle says. "So, what now?"
"I don't know," Liz says.
"Are you okay?" Alex asks. Tess hears nothing. "I'm sorry Lizzie."
"Me too," Kyle adds.
"I'm fine," she says, sounding upset. "I… I don't want you or Tess or Michael or Isabel or… Max to die."
"We won't and Tess is still alive," Alex says.
"Yeah, I think we'll be okay. Adam will hatch and he'll have Michael and Isabel and we'll be okay," Liz says.
"Do you think they'll go to their planet?" Kyle asks.
"I don't know," Liz says.
"I suppose that would be for the best," Alex says, sounding sad.
"Yeah," Kyle says. "I gotta go, Tess is picking me up by the football field. But, I'll keep you posted."
"Thanks, Kyle," Liz says.
Haha! That's done! I hope you liked it. Again review and make my day folks.
Also it may take me longer than 1 or 2 weeks to update. I have finals soon, yikes!