Midnight Hope had reached Odym, and landed safely on the soft grass full of the beautiful flowers she and the other Blue Lanterns have made a while back.
"Saint Walker? Ganthet? Sayd? Anyone here?" Midnight Hope called out.
"Oh, Sister Lea. Welcome back." Sayd said floating towards Midnight Hope, "What brings you back to Odym so soon?"
"I have a bit of a situation involving my Lantern powers," Midnight Hope explained. "One where it may or may not have revealed my secret identity to someone."
Sayd was interested. "Most Lanterns do not hide their identities from the universe. But Hal has told Ganthet and me about your concepts of superheroes and their rules of secret identities."
"Right. It's different on Earth. If people knew about Hal or me being Lanterns, then the people we care about would be targeted by villains and used for their own twisted plots against us," Midnight Hope explained. "I know the story far too well. Anyway, I was hoping you or Ganthet could somehow help me get better control of my powers whenever I sing and play music. That last time I did unintentionally projected some embarrassing stuff in revealing who I am under the mask in front of a Plumber agent in training. And a Necrofriggian who recently gave birth today, but that's not important."
"A Necrofriggian?!" Sayd said in shock. "I only heard talks about them. They're the type of creatures that haven't been cataloged by the Guardians because they're from a sector of the galaxy that is way beyond us." She then noticed something on Midnight Hope. "Is that the Necrofriggian you're referring to?"
"What are you...?" Midnight Hope paused when feeling something purring on top of her head. "Oh, no, don't tell me..."
Much to her dismay, it was the littlest Necrofriggian friend she made back home on Earth. And it followed her all the way to Odym.
"AAAAAHHHHHH! Fro'Gieon is gonna freeze my hide when he finds out one of his dozen babies is missing!" Midnight Hope panicked, grabbing the baby with both hands gently.
"A baby Necrofriggian... Fascinating." Sayd said, looking at the baby moth alien.
"I got to get this little guy back before they leave Earth," Midnight Hope said, looking at the baby in distress. "Ugh! I never should have done that dumb performance in the first place! Why did I thought playing music would do anything good?! It made the hatching progress quicker, but it still got me caught by a boy I only met for a few days who happens to make me feel dumb whenever I'm around him!
"It's because you're in love. And your love is powered with Hope," Sayd said.
"What?!" Midnight Hope exclaimed, her cheeks burning whole almost letting go of the baby. "That can't be it! I am not in love with Ben Tennyson! I couldn't be!"
Around her flustered reasoning, the baby Necrofriggian went intangible to go right through Hope's hands without realizing it.
"How could I develop feelings for a boy I've just met and known for almost a week?! I can't go through some tragic love story that might be similar to Razer!" Midnight Hope stated, trying to breathe.
"Not all romances are like Razer's," Sayd said
"They could start!" Midnight Hope stated, still freaking out until noticing her empty hands. "AH! Where did the little Necrofriggian go?! He must have slipped through my hands without me realizing it!"
"Not exactly, from what I heard, Necrofriggians can become intangible and invisible." Sayd explained.
"I realized that. Ben told me facts about Necrofriggians," Midnight Hope groaned, facepalming. "We got to find that little baby now before he freezes the forest."
Suddenly, Midnight Hope thought of a realization.
"Wait...Sayd, don't baby Necrofriggians eat solar plasma?" She asked.
"I believe so." Sayd said.
"Please, tell me our main Lantern battery isn't energized by that," Midnight Hope said.
"We'll have to ask Ganthet," Sayd said. "He made the Blue Lantern Battery. Perhaps he'll have answers."
"No time. We got to find the baby before it eats the energy of that battery," Midnight Hope stated, already flying up to search. "Look for Ganthet and warn him about the Necrofriggian situation!"
"Will do." Sayd replied as she left.
Midnight Hope quickly tried looking for the Necrofriggian baby all over Odym. Along with finding any Blue Lanterns around the area to warn.
"This is Midnight Hope from Sector 2814. I am calling for some help to any Lanterns in Odym," Midnight Hope said, using her ring to communicate with anyone around the area. "Be on the lookout for a baby Necrofriggian and try to capture him. Do not blast him or do any harm. If you see him or anything like that, call me immediately."
As Midnight Hope continued searching for the baby Necrofriggian, she saw someone floating down toward her. Her signal had reached. And, to her surprise, the Lantern had a red and blue aura. "Hello, Lea. it's been a while,"
Midnight Hope recognized the guy and the voice.
"Razer!?" Midnight Hope replied, very happy to see him. "No way! I can't believe you're here. How are things with you and Aya?"
"Things are going okay," Razer said. "I got your distress signal message and I was hoping to see this baby Necrofriggian."
"Yeah...That was kind of my fault for that little guy being here," Midnight Hope stated, sheepishly. "I originally came here to ask for a solution to my powers being out of control that exposed my secret to someone by accident, but I managed to bring a stowaway after helping an adult Necrofriggian's birth process go fast. It's a long and complicated story that I might explain later."
"Very well," Razer simply said. "I'll help you find this Necrofriggian, and then you can tell me about this."
"Great. Hopefully, the little guy hasn't found the giant Lantern battery yet and eating the energy out of it," Midnight Hope replied, flying forward to continue her search. "So, you know about Necrofriggians, too?
"Yes and no." Razer said. "I heard about these creatures, but that's all I know," Razer said. "Necrofriggians are rare in the universe."
"I'll say. Hal and I ran into an adult Necrofriggian called Fro'Gieon who was around Earth eating lots of metal," Midnight Hope explained, noticing a trail of icy around the trees. "Over there! He went that direction!"
"We must be getting close." Razer said, seeing the trees frozen.
"Got to be. Letin 's catch this baby before it causes any damage, here," Midnight Hope said, following that trail.
"Okay then," Razer said, as they follow the icy path.
The two Lanterns continued following the path until it stopped outside the forest. Just as thru lost the trail, Midnight Hope started to hear familiar chirping/purring sounds echoing somewhere and looked up at the source.
"There! He's hiding in the caves!" Midnight Hope exclaimed, pointing at the spot.
Midnight Hope then sees the baby flying towards something. A cave.
"This way!" Midnight Hope said, taking the lead inside the cave. "We got him now, Razer!"
Razer noticed the baby. "So, that's a Necrofriggian baby," He said. "They are rare."
"I'll say. And we got to return him back to Fro'Gieon before things get out of hand," Midnight Hope replied, trying to look through him in the same caverns where she'd practice her music.
"If it's inside that cave, then it may be a little difficult." Razer said.
"Maybe not. I've been to those caves a bunch of times," Midnight Hope stated, already going in with Razer following. "I know these caverns like the back of my hand. We'll catch the little guy in no time."
"Very well." Razer said. "You lead the way then."
Nodding, Midnight Hope floated through the tunnels until coming towards a familiar spot. Something Razer took notice out of curiosity.
"This is where I practice my construct playing in secret...Or at least, I used to," Midnight Hope explained, now walking. "My guess is that the baby Necrofriggian came here because it's similar to the same caverns he hatched from."
Razer then noticed the same flowers from outside where also in the cave as well. "These flowers, did you... made them?" He asked.
"...Not on purpose, but yeah," Lea/ Midnight Hope admitted, rubbing her own neck sheepishly. "It happened when I started performing with the other Blue Lanterns. Turns out, they were interested in Earth music after hearing me. Even though I was shy about it."
"I see," Razer said. "So, you and the rest of the Blue Lantern corps did all this."
"Pretty much," Midnight Hope answered, smiling a little to feel proud. "Honestly...it was the first time I performed with a group that helped me feel less nervous. I've never done anything like that before, but I'm glad I did. Now, all I need to figure out is how to control myself in playing without making constructs that expose my secret in front of people."
The Blue Lantern girl said that last part a little fast awkwardly.
"Your power is run by Hope, correct?" Razer asked. "Sometimes your emotions boost your power to great heights."
"Tell me about it," Midnight Hope groaned, covering her face in shame. "I think my Hope got too high with this certain someone I met back on Earth."
Just then, the two Lanterns heard an odd noise that was making out a sort of song.
"It seems to be coming in that direction." Razer pointed. "But I never heard music like that. Is that the earth music you mentioned?"
"Yes. And unfortunately, he's humming the same song I played during the hatching phase," Midnight Hope deadpanned, facepalming. "The one where I accidentally exposed my identity to Ben and Fro'Gieon. But mostly Ben. I'll never hear nor play that melody the same ever again."
"My guess is your power was manifested with your imagination. And when you play music with passion. it brings it into the light." Razer theorized.
"And the song I did could have been describing how I felt around the guy I exposed my secret to," Midnight Hope added, slowly getting it until realizing something else. "Ugh! Which means I might have to play that song again in order to attract the baby in finding us."
"Looks like it," Razer suggested.
"This is going to be embarrassing," Midnight Hope muttered flatly, constructing her guitar after sighing. "But desperate times call for desperate measures."
"I shall help, if you like," Razer offered.
"Not sure if you play any instruments to follow my tempo, Razer, but I'll take any help that involves catching the Necrofriggian baby when in close range," Midnight Hope said, getting in position.
"I mostly learned how to play a lyre thanks to Saint Walker," Razer said, forming a blue lyre construct.
"Oooooo!" Midnight Hope muttered in awe, starting to feel giddy. "This might turn out better than I thought. Hopefully, I won't mess up again."
And so, the Lanterns play the music, Razer tried very hard while Lea plays with her passion.
"If you're feelin' down,
I just wanna make you happier, baby,
Wish I was around,
I just wanna make you happier, baby,
We've been doin' all this late night talkin',
'Bout anythin' you want until the mornin',
Now you're in my life,
I can't get you off my mind,"
Midnight Hope was singing the lyrics of the song where her energy was glowing very bright as much as her ring. She had her eyes closed and swayed to the rhythm of what she played.
Razer then noticed something that explains a lot now. "Now I understand," He said.
He then sees the baby Necrofriggian crawling towards the sound of the music, and it began purring.
Midnight Hope continued playing the lullaby remix version where her voice continued being strong. She even almost thought of the same constructs as before that manifested through her hopeful desires.
"She's playing her soul out every time she's in sync with her music. And it happens when she closes her eyes," Razer said. "That makes sense now."
The Necrofriggian baby fluttered above Midnight Hope's head, as if dancing along the song, too.
It didn't take long for a few certain constructs to appear around the middle and end part of the song.
As Razer sees the constructs fading away, Midnight Hope then opened her eyes and sees the baby Necrofriggian with her. Razer could finally speak. "I figured out what happened on Earth with you."
"Yeah...I'm honestly debating about never playing music ever again as Midnight Hope," the Blue Lantern female admitted, looking down sadly. "Or even showing my face to see Ben again. I just don't know what to do. There are moments where I wish I didn't feel this way with Ben or any other guy. That I could get rid of that emotional part."
"That's what I thought, too...Almost four years ago." Razer said. "When I wanted to get my Red Lantern ring back from Metron. Whenever you play your music and close your eyes, your hopeful mind plays along, as well. That's why it showed your most hopeful desires. You've grown fond of this 'Ben' person, haven't you?"
"No! I mean...maybe?" Midnight Hope said, a little sheepish in admitting the truth. "Ugh, I don't know what I feel! I just met him almost a week ago and I manage to act and say the wrong things around him! And Ben discovering that I'm Midnight Hope has made things worse! I can't go back!"
Razer understood Midnight Hope's complicated emotions. "Lea, I know how you feel, but you can't run away from your problems. That was the biggest mistake I once did when I lost Aya for the first time."
"You mean...avoiding Ben to never talk to him will just be setting off the tragic love cycle similar to your rocky relationship with Aya?" Midnight Hope asked, trying to understand.
"You could say that," Razer said. "Because I bottled up my true feelings for Aya, I never forgave myself for the consequences that lead up."
"But how do I know if Ben does feel the same way for me?" Midnight Hope asked, seeing the Necrofriggian baby fly down on top of her with a small yawn. "For I all know, my performance could have scared him off. Maybe he hates me for knowing Lea Thompson is Midnight Hope. Or already blabbing the truth to the whole world. Or even ratting me out as we speak about unintentionally kidnapping one of Fro'Gieon' children!"
"You're overthinking too much. What if he was just shocked? Or speechless and needed time to process it?" Razer asked.
"...Maybe you're right, Razer," Midnight Hope said, still unsure until feeling her head get cold from a chilly breath and hearing a soft snore.
Midnight Hope then sees the baby Necrofriggian breathe down on her neck.
"It seems to like you a lot." Razer said.
"You mean 'he'," Midnight Hope corrected, carefully cuffing the tired baby. "While I'm still new with Necrofriggians, I can tell it's a boy."
"Okay, then. But still, he does seem to like you." Razer said.
"Yeah...Wish it was easy to tell with someone else I know," Midnight Hope said, very unsure. "Razer, is it normal to feel scared? Scared to face someone you end up having strong emotions for?"
"It gets complicated at first, but then you later accept them," Razer said.
"...I think I'm ready to head back home to Earth," Midnight Hope announced, petting/carrying the baby moth alien. "To return this little guy and talk to Ben."
"Before you do, you told Sayd to get Ganthet, correct?" Razer pointed out.
"To guard the main battery, in case this little guy tried to eat any plasma energy it had," Midnight Hope replied, nodding her head. "That's right."
"You should let them know you found the baby and taking him home." Razer advised.
"Oh. Good point," Midnight Hope said, smacking her head for not thinking of that sooner. "Come on, Razer. Let's get out of the caves and let the Ex-Guardians know the search is over."
"Very well. Let's go." Razer said as they both flew out of the cave.
So, I think you all know the rest. After going to Ganthet and Sayd to assure them that the baby Necrofriggian was found, I was on my way back to Earth in returning the little one to his family. But the question remains...Did I talk to Ben about the whole 'exposing my secret identity' thing? Well, I'll let the next chapter of the story speak for itself.
To Be Concluded...