Mouse from Space – Chapter 17.
Everything was so quiet in that late hour at the hospital. Only a few machines and the patients' moan broke the silence. Bitter smell of medicines and detergents emitted in the air. In one ward Minnie laid on a bed with a mask on the face, infusion stuck into her arm. Right next to her another machine beeped.
"How is she?" in the doorway Ozzie grabbed the doctor's arm, full with concern.
"We stabilized her condition, she's out of danger at the moment." answered the medical "You came just in time. The pneumonia isn't a simple cold that you can kill with medicines. What you were thinking?" the hare hunched his shoulders "If you arrive an hour later, then we possibly couldn't save her life."
"We thought its nothing serious..." muttered Oswald shameful "B-but she will be okay, right?" the doctor stared at his sad, guilty face and sighed a little.
"Her system reacted positively to the antibiotics. With a lot of rest and care she will be healthy again." reassured the medical. Ozzie slowly nodded, then glanced at the sleeping girl. One of her hand was softly caressed by Aunt Ellie who sat right next to the bed alongside with her mate. Oswald slowly went to the other side, touched the free hand.
"Please hurry get well. You're a strong girl, don't let a damn little cold kick you off the feet." whispered kindly the male as he watched the girl he adored the most. The fingers in his palm twitched, then slowly moved away. Oswald blinked, then felt a killer glare on his face. He slowly turned and his eyes met with Minnie's. Her irises were blurry in fever, but emitted rage and hatred "Minnie..."
"D-don't touch...me" hissed through her teeth Minnie, trying to breath.
"Minnie!" Aunt Ellie noticed she's awaken, almost jumped at her niece to crash her, but halted her motherly instincts and just hold her hand tighter "Finally you woke up. We were so worried..."
"W-where are... we? A-and why i-is he here?"muttered weakly the young girl. Oswald flattened his ears by the 'warm' welcome. He put his hands into his pockets and walked to the door.
"I was worried about you, that's all..." he sighed.
"And Mickey?" looked around in the room Minnie, then back at the rabbit suspiciously.
"Before you ask, no, I didn't sell him. He's somewhere around with his new friend." frowned Ozzie and left the female behind, secretly biting his lips in pain. Minnie watched his leave, confused of what happened while she was sick and unconscious.
Door opened and two figures walked to the hospital's rooftop. The taller dog cautiously looked around, then sighed.
"I think we can talk here." said Delbert. Next to him Mickey nodded, wearing trousers and a light shirt. On his head Morph sat as a comfortable hat.
"Please tell me everything. Things are so confusing about me." muttered the mouse, rubbing his arms as cool wind blew his unbuttoned shirt. "You know who am I, right?"
"I answer every of your question." bowed his head Delbert. Mickey thought for a moment, then asked the first thing came into his mind.
"Who am I? You always call me on that strange name, Ne-Nera..."
"Neraion." finished the dog "Yes, that's your real name, given by your parents, King Waldein and Queen Lillaina."
"King Waldein... Queen Lillaina..." tasted the names Mickey, tried to remember their face, but slowly lowered his head, when he didn't find anything about them. Delbert noticed the sadness on his face. He reached out his hand to the mouse.
"Let me help you. Morph, come and show him." the hat wiggled and melt into pink jelly that bounced onto Delbert's palm. It trembled a little then it got the shape of Mickey, a miniaturized Mickey. But this Mickey was different than the current mouse. The copy wore beautiful jeweleries on the whole body made by unknown materials. Accessories shined on the ankles, on the big wrists, the neck, even on the upper arms and waist. And, compared to the actual Mickey, he had a cocky expression.
Mickey raised a confused brow at the copy, that changed in the next moment, now forming into two figures. They were bright blue mice, just like him with white tattoos and jeweleries. The male was straight and royal, his eyes shined with great knowledge. Instinctively touched a tiny mustache with a finger then fixed the circle shaped crown between the ears. By his side Mickey saw the most beautiful creature in his life. The female modestly stood by her mate's side, invisible wind blew her long hair. Compared to the males, she wore a really soft, silk like fabric around the chest and skirt like loin cloth. Her eyes were so warm, like the sunshine as she smiled at someone invisible.
"They're..." Mickey put a hand in front of his mouth as he watched the small copies with awe.
"King Waldein and Queen Lillaina. Your parents and emperors of the Astra kingdom. They were the most loyal, kindest and open minded rulers in Astra's history..." Delbert's voice choked as his lips began to tremble.
"What's wrong? Why you speak in past sentence?" asked Mickey. The dog rubbed his eyes, hesitating to answer or not.
"Because... oh how to say..." fidgeted his glasses Delbert "Some things happened... some really horrible things..."
"I don't understand. What happened Delbert?" the dog tried to turn away but Mickey grabbed his thin wrist firmly. The male vacillated, then took a sharp sigh, looking back at the mouse.
"One day... a person arrived. A really wicked person." on his free hand Morph shaped into a large, ominous shadow. There was something in Delbert's voice that bothered Mickey, but his attention was focused on the story "He fooled all of us and when we were the most vulnerable he attacked the kingdom and the royal court." the shadow towered the two mouse's figure and devoured them as they tried to defend themselves. "He destroyed the city, killed everyone who was in his way then..." Morph showed as a beautiful planet explodes into million small pieces. Mickey yelped and jumped behind in shock. "...nothing remained from our beautiful Astra."
"This can't be... you mean my parents... everyone..."
"It's possible there are survivors who left the planet in time. But it has a very little chance..." muttered Delbert with hanging head, Morph floated onto his shoulder and tried to reassure the dog.
Mickey just couldn't believe his ears. Finally he knew the truth about his origins and then... his parents... his kind... they're no more. Probably he's the only survivor of his planet. He felt as the ground shakes under his feet and he collapsed onto his knees.
"Prince Neraion..." Delbert grabbed him under his arms, aiming the mouse not to faint "You need to be strong, the danger is still near us!"
"W-what are you talking about?" stared upon the tall dog Mickey.
"The one who destroyed the kingdom maybe already knows where you are. He will come here to get what he wants. We have to hurry!" Delbert now pulled the mouse up and, holding his wrist began to drag Mickey to the door "If we leave the planet then we won't meet with him..."
"L-leave the planet?" Mickey halted, yanking away his paw "I can't leave, I..."
"We don't have time for arguments! You just heard what that demon had done with Astra. You want the same happens with this planet?" cut his sentence Delbert desperately, his eyes sometimes scanned the sky, looking for possible enemies.
"Of course I don't want this... person destroy the Earth, but..." Mickey bit his bottom lips "T-there's someone that important for me..."
"You mean that female mouse?" raised a brow the dog. The way Mickey lowered his head and the two blue spot on his cheek told him everything. For a second his eyes shined up, but they then reflected with fear "Oh nonono, don't even think about that! You can't... I mean I'm happy you're happy, but it's not the right time for... ughhh for Astra's Stars..." rubbed his temples with a groan.
"W-we're only friends... Minnie was the first person who found and befriend me..." explained the mouse, defensively turning away.
"I can understand, Prince Neraion you two are two different world. Literally..."
"I just know it!" barked back Mickey, clenching his fist a bit angry now "I know, but I.. I think I l..." suddenly a horrific shriek sounded from inside the building, followed by gunshots.
"What on Astra going on?" yelped Delbert by the sounds.
"Oh no... Minnie." moaned Mickey in shock, then began to run inside the hospital, afraid of what has happened.
To be continued...