Marnaya had waited impatiently, mentally cursing Matsye for sucking the fun out of everything so far. She didn't understand how to act around him either; growing up on Oban, Marnaya didn't really have anyone her own age to play with. When she met Max, he was young and had a tough time making friends, too.
The cousins had become friends easily, though neither one knew how to act around the other at first. Max had simply followed Marnaya on one of her missions one day, and forever after he was her sidekick.
The truth was...being surrounded by adults their whole lives made it hard for Marnaya and Max to relate to their peers. Marnaya was pondering this before looking up at a noise. The noise came from a large Nourasian beetle, buzzing toward the racer. On top was a young Nourasian man with a smug smile on his face.
"My name is Jhondar. " he had said. "I am the best racer here, second only to King Aikka and Queen Eva. Race me if you dare, newcomer."
Marnaya looked at him, questioningly. He smiled widely with pride. "Unless you're too afraid."
The human girl quickly responded. "Ya know, I have never raced a Nourasian before..."
With that, she started the star racer and flew toward the race track with Jhondar.
Matsye and Natsuri ran toward the dirt track. When they reached it, they found their mother's racer at the starting position alongside a well known champion...
"Oh for the love of Dul!" Matsye yelled frustrated. Out of all racers, why did it have to be Jhondar? He'd destroy her...
The gong sounded and the Nourasian and Marnaya sped off. Marnaya easily gained the lead when a number of pendulums began to swing at her. Matsye wanted to look away as he prepared for the racer to become flying scrap metal, but he was stunned when she dodged every object. Natsuri was shocked, too. Only their mother had ever been THAT good...
Matsye watched the race carefully, noticing that Jhondar had taken a narrow lead. The star racer sped up and ran neck-and-neck with Jhondar. Jhondar could see he had chosen a worthy opponent...
He loaded his bow and chanted a spell; the tip of the arrow glowed and he launched it toward the star racer.
Matsye knew he would be in serious trouble if the racer was hit. He waited for impact...
Except no impact happened. He opened his eyes to see the arrow miss and hit the ground. The racer took advantage of this as it increased its distance from Jhondar.
Marnaya had won the race.
Matsye could not believe what he'd just seen. He headed for module as he saw the racer do the same.
Marnaya smiled to herself as she climbed down from the cockpit. Her smile disappeared as she noticed Matsye standing a few feet from her.
"Aw, shit." she hissed under her breath.
"How did you do that?!" he demanded. His tone caught her off guard.
"Umm...ya know...I...flew the...ship?"
"But how did you maneuver it so well?"
"Kezi taught me."
"Kezi?"
"She's...kinda...she's like my mother. It's difficult to explain."
"She was a pilot?"
"Yep. During the Erridian and Earth Conflict."
"And she was a good one." a new voice replied. Marnaya and Matsye turned to see Eva walking toward them. Marnaya's feeling of relief disappeared again. This was the owner of the racer; she had to be pissed off. Matsye seemed to feel the same. Both of them lowered their heads as she approached them.
"That was a GREAT race, Marnaya." Eva said. "You've shown your skills already."
Marnaya looked up surprised. "You...you're not...pissed at me?"
"Well...I am a little annoyed you took my racer without permission. But you seem able to handle it. Feel free to use it. So long as it doesn't interfere with MY using it."
"Th-thank you."
Eva smiled before saying, "You're Jordan's girl...aren't you?"
Marnaya's eyes grew wide. "You know my father?"
"Yes. He used to be my gunner."
"How did you know?"
"Has no one ever told you how much you look like him?"
"Well, yes. Except for my eyes..." Something absorbed from earlier. "Wait...You knew my father...AND Kezi?"
Eva looked surprised. "Yes. We used to..." Eva wasn't sure what to say; Jordan and Kezi had both asked her not to tell Marnaya about Jordan being the Avatar and Kezi being her mother. She never got her answer as to why, but she honored their request. She finished her statement. "...hang out."
Matsye just looked more curiously at the young girl. What were the odds that the Blue Flash was the daughter of his mother's old gunner?
Marnaya was led to her guest room. She couldn't believe the size of it; it was twice as wide as her room back on Oban.
She took the opportunity to relax a little before Matsye came to get her. Apparently King Aikka wanted to ask her some questions.
She heard a knock on the door. When she opened it, she found Matsye's sister waiting outside. She smiled at Marnaya as she asked, "May I come in?"
"Sure."
When the Nourasian princess was inside, she turned around to face Marnaya. "So you're not one of my brother's girlfriends?"
"His...WHAT?"
"Matsye likes to bring his girlfriends home with him." She gave another smile. "It's a habit of his."
Marnaya blushed brightly. "I'm not one of his girls, ya know."
"Oh. Alright then. Well, I do hope you are able to help us...Blue Flash."
"What?! Did Matsye-?"
"No. I knew before he'd left he was retrieving the Flash...I just didn't expect him...to be a girl."
Marnaya sighed. "You're not the first to tell me that, ya know."
"Matsye probably thought he got a double bargain." She got up and walked out of the room. "Nice meeting you. Oh! I'm Natsuri. If you have any questions...let me know."
"Okay. Thanks."
"See you later, Marnaya."
"See ya."
Marnaya stood pondering as she dwelt on Natsuri's words. 'Matsye probably thought he got a double bargain...'
The young human girl shook her head. He wouldn't dare do that. If he did, it was a mistake.
Matsye knocked on the door. "Marnaya?" he called through the door. "I'd like to speak to you."
Marnaya opened the door, not paying attention to Matsye at all. He hesitantly walked in.
"Marnaya?"
She turned to face him. "What?" she asked, curious.
"How would you like to visit the villages? After all, I have a job to do there."
Marnaya smiled widely as she read the challenge behind his words. "I accept your challenge, Prince Matsye."
He grinned back. "Somehow...I knew you would, Blue Flash."