PART II: QUEST

15 years later...

"Kezi!"

Kezi turned around from where she was in the Epsilonian marketplace; a masked figure dressed in an old shirt and pants with black boots that stopped at the thighs.

"Not again!" Kezi groaned.

The Blue Flash reached a hand out and grabbed Kezi, pulling her behind itself. Kezi hung on tightly to her bag as she looked behind her at the pursuing Crogs. The Blue Flash darted through the streets, attracting attention from all sorts of people. The Flash pulled out a small round object and tossed it toward the pursuers. As soon as the ball had hit the ground, a large, dark cloud of smoke arose, giving the vigilante and Kezi a chance to escape.

"Dammit!" they heard one of the Crogs yell before they were out of hearing range.

The Blue Flash finally stopped and let go of Kezi. The two breathed hard from their dash. Then they heard a noise.

"Who's there?" demanded the Flash. A chuckle was heard followed by a cloaked image emerging from the shadows. The figure took off his hood, revealing an adolescent boy with sandy blonde hair and brown eyes.

Turning to the Blue Flash, the young boy asked, "Looks like we both lost our pursuers. Are you alright?" Kezi glanced up looking at the Flash who began to remove his mask.

"Of course I'm alright."

"What on Earth was that about?" Kezi chided. "Could you possibly be any MORE reckless?!"

"Those Crogs were going to pulverize that little Byran!"

"So you thought to get pulverized in his place?! Show some restraint!"

The face the mask revealed was framed by bangs of short, black hair. The Flash's green eyes looked back at the worried Kezi with an unconcerned expression.

"Sure. Sure. Whatever."

Kezi sighed in frustration and looked at the blonde haired boy before saying, "C'mon. We're going back now." The three traveled together through the back streets, the younger boy impressed with what he'd seen while helping his older companion.

"Those Nourasians I ran by must've been REALLY important." he told with excitement. "They even had special royal mounts!"

"Hmmm." the Flash replied in an uninterested voice.

"Awww. C'mon."

"I don't care."

"You don't care?!" demanded the younger boy. He gave an irritated huff before replying, "Useless...you're no fun at all."

They made it back to the place they were staying without anymore trouble. Kezi walked through the door first while the Flash stood back a little, not wanting to be seen. The Blue Flash had an annoyed expression as Kezi called into the other room, "We're back!"

The Flash slowly tiptoed in front of the doorway into the dining hall, seeing no way around it and hoped no one was looking. In the middle of the door frame, the Flash stopped in mid step as a familiar voice was heard.

"MARNAYA!"

The Flash flinched at the name. The voice continued on from a man in his early thirties, blonde haired with orange highlights and a little facial hair.

"Again you leave you residence without permission."

Innocently, Marnaya raised a hand to wave at the man, noticing a couple of others in the background.

"Oh, hello. Uncle Keni...what an unexpected pleasure!" The younger blonde headed boy dashed in and stopped beside Marnaya.

"Hey Dad!" he said. The man turned on him.

"And YOU, Max!" The two looked up at him with a mix of terror and mischief. The man stood up and walked toward them in frustration.

"Marnaya, your father is here to conduct diplomatic relationships. And your childish theatrics threaten it ALL!"

"Ummm...well...I-"

"Dad!" Max interrupted. Marnaya backed away, realizing Max was giving an opportunity for escape.

"Marnaya was incredible! You should've seen-"

"That's enough, Max!" The boy's father noticed Marnaya make a dash for the guest bedroom. "Where do you think you're going!? I'm not done!"

The door slammed, and Max just grinned with triumph.

Marnaya found Kezi in the room. Kezi had already changed into her usual high- collared sleeveless shirt under a long, loose fitting dress.

"Go get changed, Marnaya."

"Right."

"You gave me a fright today, ya know." Kezi continued. "And I'm not through scolding you for your recklessness."

"I don't see why I scared you..." Marnaya muttered. "I've done this shit since I was eight."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Marnaya went up to where the bed was. Stripping down out of the crime-fighting get up, a small and slender girl was underneath. Marnaya quickly replaced her fighting gear with jeans and a T-shirt. She went back down to help Kezi.

"Oh. You forgot to take this silly wig off." Kezi said, nudging Marnaya who simply replied, "I'd like to go back down as soon as we're done."

Kezi simply looked at her in concern. "Are...you alright? You haven't been yourself lately..."

Marnaya exhaled slowly before replying, "I'm just a little bummed out. I mean, I wish my mom could see me. Daddy says she's always busy on Erridan. But neither Daddy nor Uncle Keni will tell me about her."

Kezi felt such pain, wanting to tell Marnaya the truth about her mother. But she fought it back.

Marnaya quickly rushed out, "Which...I view you as my mom, Kezi...ya know? But I just can't help but wonder about the woman who gave birth to me, ya know?"

"I understand. I would feel the same way."

As soon as they were done, Kezi stopped Marnaya from racing upstairs right away.

"Marnaya, your father's back. And...he's says you can take it off. It's time Max knew, ya know?"

Marnaya couldn't believe it; she yanked the wig off of her head, revealing long, silky black hair that flowed to her waist. She hugged Kezi and said, "Are you sure? Are you sure that Daddy said that?!"

"Yes...Keni came and told me while you were picking up."

"YES! That's amazing. ya know!"

Marnaya darted upstairs and came to a halt just before she reached the living room. She checked in the hallway mirror to check her black hair with strands that framed both sides of her face. She wanted to make sure it wasn't messed up. She still felt strange with her hair flowing free.

Her father had had her wear a wig to disguise herself as a boy since she turned six; he wanted to protect her from harm since he was a helper of the Avatar. If she appeared as a boy, others would more than likely leave her alone. She'd refused to cut her hair though.

The young girl took a deep breath as she peeked into the room. She didn't see her dad, but he could've been around the corner. Keni saw her and with a smile, gestured for her to come in.

"Hello everyone." she said, the other three men turning to smile at her with no surprise on their face.

Max simply stared at her with shock before finally speaking.

"HUH!?" Max yelled. "Someone's turned Marnaya into a GIRL!"

Kezi had walked in just before he'd started speaking. When she heard what he exclaimed, she simply called back, "Mother Nature."

"Huh?" Max said as he let that sink in. "SO YOU WERE A GIRL THIS WHOLE TIME?!"

"Quiet, child." Keni scolded as the men just laughed at the little boy.

"YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS?!" Max looked at all the faces, each with a knowing smirk. "HEY!"

A laugh was heard as Jordan glanced in. Kezi gave him a smile and he returned the gesture. Then Marnaya spotted him. She rushed to him.

"DADDY! You came!" she hugged him tightly.

Jordan hugged his daughter back as he snorted and replied, "I wouldn't miss your birthday. I never have, have I?"

"NOPE!" She let go to look at her father.

She never understood why her dad, or Kezi as a matter of fact, never seemed to age. Her uncle had aged a little bit, now being 33 years old. But Jordan and Kezi still appeared to be in their late teens or early twenties. They'd told her it was because of their roles on Oban.

Kezi called over. "C'mon, Everyone. It's time to eat."

After everyone ate, Kezi brought in the cake she had made for her birthday. Marnaya smiled brightly; she was happy that she was still getting to celebrate her birthday even so far from home. Then she sighed.

"What is it?" her dad asked.

"The only one missing is Skittles." she replied. Skittles was a small blue alien that floated around Marnaya wherever she went. He'd been around since she was a baby so it could be considered a pet since Marnaya cared for him and vice versa.

Jordan gave his daughter a guilty smirk as she looked at him. "What is it, Daddy?"

He simply whistled. And large blue blob cam flying into the room.

"SKITTLES!" Marnaya yelled as she hugged her little friend. It returned a friendly gesture by licking her cheek repeatedly. Everyone laughed at the scene.

When everything settled down, the candles were lit on the cake. Marnaya closed her eyes as she made her wish.

"Be sure to get them all, Marnaya." Kezi said. With a strong puff, Marnaya blew out all fifteen candles. Everyone clapped and said, "Happy Birthday".

Jordan turned to Marnaya. "By the way, Marnaya...I know you don't know these men here in front of you. So let me introduce them."

He pointed to the red-headed African American first. "That's Stan." Stan gave a small smile. "Nice to meet you, Marnaya."

"You too, Stan."

Next was the Asian sitting beside Stan. "That's Koji."

"Hello."

"Hello, Koji."

Finally, he gestured to the sandy haired man sitting between Kezi and Keni. "And that is Zack."

"Hey." Zack said with a grin. Marnaya grinned back and said, "It was nice to meet all of you. I'm glad you all came."

Max had snuck his way back over to Marnaya. "Okay...if you were a girl...how come you were wearing that wig?"

Before anyone could answer, Keni had gotten up and grabbed his son's ear. He sat him down next to him, causing everyone to laugh.

Then Garan came in; Garan was a Scrub from the planet Alwas as well as a friend of Jordan's. Garan used to watch Marnaya when Jordan and Kezi had to go on diplomatic missions. Until Marnaya learned how to sword fight when she was six. By then, she was so fast that just about nobody could catch her.

"Sorry to interrupt, but..." Garan said. "The Creators want to speak with her now."

Marnaya felt butterflies in her stomach. She'd met them a couple of times when she was little. She'd always sit patiently and silently in her father's arms as he spoke to them. But she'd never been with them alone...

But now came the opportunity for her to ask the question she'd always had...

She merely stood up and followed Garan out of the room. She looked back at everyone, looking at Kezi and Jordan last of all. They gave her a worried but encouraging look before she turned around to follow.

He didn't stop until they had reached the Epsilon capital building, just down the path from Keni's home. Garan left her alone in the room. All her surrounding seemed to fade. Then she saw the small balls of light floating down.

The Creators were here.

They all seemed to stop to float in front of Marnaya. She felt uncomfortable, but held her ground. A Creator finally spoke.

"You are Marnaya Wilde, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you turn fifteen today..." said another Creator.

"Yes, sir."

"When you were born, it was decided that this day would begin your mission." Yet another Creator spoke. "A mission that would allow you to prove your skill and determination as is required to become one of Oban."

"If I may ask, what is my mission?" Marnaya asked calmly.

"You will know when you have completed it." said the first Creator.

"But how am I supposed to-"

"You will know, child." said the second Creator. "Now go in peace."

The Creators began to disperse; Marnaya yelled out, "Wait!"

"What is it?"

"I have ONE question...one of many years...that I'd like answered!"

"You will have it answered when you complete your task."

The Creators disappeared, and her surroundings reappeared. Marnaya calmly walked out of the building into the empty street before she let out her frustration.

"DAMMIT!" she screamed loudly. She slowly made her way home, a frown on her face. When she walked through the door, her father was by the door waiting.

"What did they say?" he asked when he took in her sullen expression.

"I have a task and I will know what it is AFTER I complete it. And I'll receive my answers after it's complete."

Jordan hugged her and said, "It's okay, baby. They do stuff like that to me, all the time. You just gotta follow your gut feeling."

She nodded and stifled a yawn. It was pretty late. "Get to bed, little duck." he told her. She obeyed without complaint.

Kezi knocked shortly after Marnaya had climbed into bed. "May I come in?"

"Sure."

Kezi came and sat down on the edge of the bed; she remained silent as Marnaya said, "I just wanted to know where my mom was..."

"You'll find out." Kezi replied.

"What if..." Marnaya said. "What if my mom just didn't want me? If that's why no one will talk to me about her, because they're afraid of hurting me?"

Kezi looked down at Marnaya with a strange expression. "That's not true. Your mother loves you very much."

Marnaya felt Kezi pat her head. "And your father loves you a lot."

The girl in bed smiled, then frowned. "Then why isn't my mom around? Why won't Daddy talk to me about her? Why-"

"It's a lot more complicated than you know. But you'll understand...I promise."

Kezi stood up and left the room. Marnaya laid in bed for a long time before drifting into sleep.

But she woke up instantly when she felt a hand cover her mouth to keep her from screaming.