Me: shorter than the others, I don't know if that's a disappointment or a relief to readers XD
Mushra: a relief to me, because for guardian's sake, you ramble.
Me: Yeah, well, you're not my target audience, so there.
Mushra: yeah, but your target audience loves me, so be kind.
Me: rewind.
Mushra: what?
Me: ENJOY!

Chapter 4 – That Strength Destined

"I can't say we've seen or gotten any more word of larger scale disruptions from this island. Not from Rusephine's temple's or from Franken's domain of the seas." Exandria spoke among the four boxes holding three Enterran's and a robot on the screen of the Vovi, her wings ruffling a bit in the background.

They all had covered relaying what they knew of Kutaal's travel to check in on things with other Enterrans and what they'd gotten from his men; Zortown was still mending, and it seems like all the responsibilities of rebuilding was set on the soldiers and men left who had previously followed Ryuma—the towns people offered no aid, and complied with some of the robot security sent to defend and watch over them against Ryuma's men, keep them inline.

"Though, I can't trust all the information coming about the bird Queen from my end, this island's closer to Franken's domain than Rusephine's." Exandria admitted. "All our problems come from shotty exchanges of goods, mishaps with importation and exportation, and the like."

Binka nodded, resisting the urge to sigh. If Mushra said there was something up, then there had to be. There was distance between Exandria's sea-town and the two Queen General's kingdoms—surely something could have gone amiss. There's one person who would know it better, being just a bit closer to at least one General. She crossed her arms as her gaze fell on Bolt. "What about you, sparky?"

"I've asked you not to call me that." Bolt reminded her with his even-more-buzzing voice (the sound to it over-emphasized over the Vovi), rolling his robotic eyes—he looked no older than what had been described to Binka before she met him, nor when she finally met him. He'd had some updates here and there, adding limbs that were more armored , or getting some advanced hardware for the cranium area, but he still looked like a young boy, even if a robotic one. "And Exandria's right—Rusephine's actually been more settled and content than I've ever seen her, in this time or the other… We bots, humans, and avian Enterran's have been living in the greatest time of peace the past few months."

Binka shook her head, before shrugging and trying to contain her reaction, putting on a brief smile. "Well, I'm thankful for that for you guys. What about you, Gerran? Anything?"

The great beast of an Enterran grunted and rolled his eyes. "A few idiots, hot-heads, and cocky bastards running amok with theft from businesses and people on the streets, and starting alley fights. No naughty General's to report. Diehanger's just as pushy, but settled in pushiness as usual. Can't say for Kimylas, though."

Binka nodded at that. Kimylas…he was suspect enough, Phantom beast Enterran General? He's got all matter of dark, twisted subjects under him. She was quiet in consideration for a moment, thinking on the Phantom General, before looking up to Kahl. "And Daku? Surely he's had some outrage, if not recently, than however many months back when Parasite left his side."

"He did. Punished a great many of his own men for it, most of them having nothing to do with Parasite or who had worked with him. He sent people to look for him, but gave it up soon after. Must have decided he wasn't worth the effort. He's settled, as well. At least, as settled as a ruler as him can be. Or any of these asshole's who decide to claim titles as Generals; how do they even get given these damn rankings?" the moth Enterran complained, aggravated.

Binka shrugged her shoulders, laying her hands on her hips. "Who even knows. But they got the titles, no matter how. Plenty to do with their power, I'm sure; which is why your eyes always need to stay open!"

"Ma'am, yes, ma'am." They all sarcastically answered, even Bolt.

Narrowing her gaze, she sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "Alright—what about the smaller areas? Maybe it's not just Generals… The bigger cities, the Victorion's, those pompous, cocky jerks—sometimes I think Sago spent some time with them…" she sidetracked briefly, before looking back and waiting for responses.

Most of them shook their heads; accept for Gerran, who shrugged. "Nothing beyond what's been going on for years, no matter how much your boy's want to keep the peace for their human—"

"She wasn't their human," Binka interrupted, stepping closer to the video and communication device, and defense and passion was in her very stance, not to mention her expression, "she was their friend, and if it wasn't for HER, this world would be worse off—or would you have liked to have gone a round against the rouge Celestial Guardian Lanancuras yourself, Gerran?"

He held his tongue, both realizing he'd spoke wrong, but not fully caring. Though he cared enough, and was smart enough to be careful with the rest of his sentence. "My bad…I was only saying, things are as peaceful as they can be, sure—still doesn't mean they're great. People in power aren't ever gonna be perfect, and more often they're harsh hands. But that's nothing more than what's expected. I think Mushra's just too spooked by old Ungar's power too much." He admitted his opinion, putting his hands on his hips importantly. "Theft, unruly men and women, and a few harsh rulers are nothing we haven't been surviving against. If he wants to get off his butt to start dealing with things again instead of spending time with his girlfriend's, he should get on top of those damn assassins."

Binka was about to snap at him, yet again, of his comment about her friends (what did he have against human's and their bonds with Enterran's?), but his last word caught her attention before she could get her voice to the right scolding octave. "What assassins? The heck are you doing just mentioning them now?!"

"I thought you all would have got word of'em by now!"

"You really think we'd be sitting around if we had!?"

Gerran just shrugged at this, as if to say, 'Well…'.

She shook her head. "Well, mind filling me in NOW, so I can pass along the information to the others?"

"I've barely heard much about them other than they've taken down some rare rouges that were causing trouble for people up in Victorion, or of the like—some sort of princes of a small land off in some canyon somewhere. I've never been there, but heard it's a tough place. Small, minimal, but rough territory. They don't even claim name to themselves or their home."

"Another thing you just conveniently let slip?" Binka raised a brow, and though Gerran couldn't see it, she was tapping her foot impatiently. How could they not have known about another small civilizations? Sure, Enterra's a bit place, always had been, but hard work had been put into trying to connect to these many places as much as possible.

He disregarded her irritation. "Again—woulda thought you guys got word. Anyways. From what I've heard, the people there like to keep hidden—come off rough and tough and shady for that reason, maybe…and I've heard account from a friend, its 'cause half of them, young folk's but growing…are the children of Enterran's and Kadrian's. Must've comingled before you and the others went on your journey to take down the alien's and their leader. And those twins were the first children, their parents or guardian's having founded their little haven. The assassins have been in hiding and missing for a while, and it's left those with knowledge of them uneasy."

Binka couldn't believe this. She was near wishing she was talking to Gerran face to face, to give him a little meet and great with her favorite weapon of choice… Enterran-Kadrian spawn? Princely assassins? Who knows what trouble this could spell…?!

"Well this is just great and dandy…!" she paced a bit, shaking her head endlessly. She looked to the others, considering interrogating them as to if they heard word too, and if she might give them ALL a talking too. Instead, though, she moved closer to the device, preparing to end the calls. "Fine. I'm taking this information to Mushra and we'll do what we need with it—thanks, all, for the information—and don't forget to Keep. Your eyes. Open! We'll check in again soon."

They all nodded and went offline, as she shut the call off on her end. Her hand found its way back to her neck, and she paced for a moment as she rubbed it. Giving a sighing grunt of irritation, she went and sat on the table and her hand found its way to her pants' belt. There hung a few spare grenades to the right of her hip (just in case), but to the left she had hanging a jewel.

She brought it before her after unhooking it, and held it in her hands. It would almost be a tear-shape, if it weren't for the edges of the tear coming and curving up to points. Once it was nothing but a decorative attachment to a shirt, once it didn't even have the shining, glimmering, rainbow jewel. But now it was hers, because she needed at least one thing, beyond just her memories, to keep that beautiful angel of a woman close to her.

She stared at Yakumo's chest jewel as she spoke. "…We've been trying, Yakumo…so hard. You'd be so proud of the boys. And me," she laughed sadly, "I've kept them nice and in line. And we've all been trying to take care of your home. Our home… But I don't know what's happening now, or what's coming, or if we're just being overly suspicious of these…things that have happened… Just keep an eye on us, where ever you are. Help guide us, like you did before. We could sure use it right now…"

I I I

I sat watching, as I'd mostly been doing the past few days we'd been coming back to the training gym. I realized how long it'd been, a few months, since we'd been here (minus Alex, who's first time was now with us). We, mainly me and Heather, had been so impatient to get out there and apply what we'd learned and knew about defense and battle and we'd left this place behind.

I was glad to be back, in a way. It felt safer, at least for me—battle practice in a place that was solely meant for the practice. Being out in the open just made me feel like I could be attacked at any moment, which now brought me discomfort. Yet as comfortable as I felt here, I was yet still uncomfortable enough that I would not join the others. Not our old spar buddies who were left that didn't go scouting the towns with Kutaal. Not Winter and Alex as my sister was giving her slow but informative lessons she'd gotten in her time training. And not Heather, who now was doing some hand to hand combat with Mushra.

Yet I was restless. I hated this, all of this right now. My limbs ached to act out, but my mind was too scared to let them.

I watched as Heather took a kick to the rib and a punch to the face. I mentally commended Mushra, he didn't seem to be holding back as much, if at all. And it didn't change Heather's battle spunk, if not, it was bringing it back; she dropped to the ground and spun to trip him up, leaping on top of him and she raised her fist. It hovered, before she lowered it and climbed off of him with a proud grin on her lips. They commended one another before starting again.

"Jaden—not joining in the fun?"

I looked up as Binka entered the gym, coming over to me with a raised brow and a questioning smirk on her face. I shrugged with a weak smile. "I'm working up to it…"

Binka sat then, and I kept looking to her as she asked, "Where's Sago? Thought he'd be training, too."

"He's checking in at the City Hall." I told her—checking in being what we called it when he or the other two boys solely or collectively brought the business men and authorities in charge in New Yora to get reports on any crime or complaints or needs from the civilians; just the business of keeping small civilizations running, those sorts of things.

She nodded. "Keep forgetting when those are—glad I don't have to go."

"Something tells me they tend to almost forget them, too." I smiled a little. "They really never seemed to be organizing type, did they?"

Binka laughed. "That they did not. Well, Sago, maybe. Kutaal with food, sure. But…yeah, they weren't ones to stick to order and schedules. Neither was I, though."

I just chuckled. We were silent for a moment, looking to the others training. I watched with longing and apprehension, which just made me want to sulk in a corner.

"You know, I never understood why you guys wanted different strength than what you had." Binka suddenly said, tearing me from my imaginings of myself in a similar position as Tamaki in his emo corner. I watched her in confusion as she continued, looking to me. "I mean, heck—I have human strength just like you all did, and I've made use of it and my man-made resources. Kicked plenty of butt and gotten things done with it, so I wondered why couldn't y'all?"

I was confused by this; was she asking a question, or was it a rhetorical statement? I almost felt offended, like she was judging me and the others, but I guess she had a point…

I heard an aha from Mushra and look up to see him pining Heather to the ground face first, winning that sparring match. He caught sight of Binka and nodded, speaking briefly to Heather once she was standing again and he walked to the corner as Binka stood.

"But," Binka continued, looking down to where I sat, a small smile on her face and I swear, the look on her face, it was so kin to a knowing, gentle, and faithful looking Yakumo, "I think maybe the strength you all have now…maybe you were meant to have it."

I could only stare at her. I said nothing, as it was too conflicting a thought, no matter if it made sense or not.

She shrugged. "Just a thought. Talk to you later, Jaden." She turned and headed to join Mushra, engaging quickly in conversation once she reached him that began to seem to become serious.

I look down at my hands, and the claws there where once I only ever had nails trimmed and never-long nails. Was I meant for this? Were we all? Meant to endure pain, for this?

I didn't think for much longer, as my melancholy thoughts were interrupted again by nearing footsteps and I looked to meet the gaze of my friend. My friend who was looking very expectant with her narrowed gaze and hands on hip.

"…What?"

"Get off your butt, that's what."

Sarcastically, I stood. "Off my butt."

"Hahaha! You crack me up!" she laughed mockingly, but the fake laugh left a smile. She nudged my shoulder (that wasn't implanted) and nodded back to the mats. "Come on—lets spar. I think you've done enough studying of everyone's tactics, sitting in your little corner."

"Aw, but I was just trying to figure out the secret to that endless energy of yours." I countered, the banter of it feeling so natural, and good.

That's when she suddenly took my left arms in the grip of both of hers and began tugging me towards the mats, with me resisting a bit. "SPAAARRRR. SPAAAAARRRRRR."

"Heather, come on, I don't—I don't know about this.."

"Pleeeeaaase?" she begged, still pulling, and I couldn't help still being amazed that someone so small had such strength. She looked up to me. "PLEEEAAAAASEEE?" her voice when up an octave. "I promise I'll go easy~."

I gave her a look, and willingly went the rest of the way, and she released me as I said, "Oh, well, don't bother doing me any favors."

She smiled excitedly, getting ready into her stance. I began getting into mine, trying to remember how I used to set myself before. I tried it, but it didn't feel right, and I found myself adjusting a bit. Eventually I settle with a half crouch, my fists at the ready.

I suddenly felt a lurch, though. One of the things that had kept me on the bench was the reoccurring sight of what happened to the trees back on Earth. "…Heather, I don't know about this… What if I—"

Heather shook her head, looking determined in her battle mode, but she spoke calmly and kept at the ready. "Don't think about that. Just think about how it was before, and how much we wanted to be able to do back then. That's all you need to think about. Now you can either kick my butt, or I can kick yours—your choice…. Let's go!"

She launched at me, at a run, and I turned out of the way. She seemed to expect that, as at the last minute, she stalled her heels and shot herself sideways to shove me partly, nearly knocking me back into Alex. I apologized as I settled myself, and I ran after Heather, raising a hand like a claw—before I caught myself, curling it into a fist and going for a punch, but missing. I caught and steadied myself well enough, turning to face Heather with fists up. I could feel myself warming then, with the little mini rushes of adrenaline or just blood running from doing activity I was unused to.

"H-Heather, I can feel that heat, I don't think I can—"

"Yes, you can." Heather half grunted, out of exertion as she threw some hits at me, which I blocked most of them, aside from a hit to the side of my head that nearly brought lights, and then a kick to my leg that made me stagger back.

"Heather—"

"I know, Jaden." She stopped briefly, though she paced me in a circle and I paced her. "I'm scared, too, I've been scared. I've noticed the power surging when I get taken down, or hit unexpectedly. I've notice the dark aura now and again, but I can't let it hold me back. If I keep letting it, then it always will." She told me, and I swallowed. "And I'm not going to let it. I'm not leaving Enterra because of this. So I'm gonna fight it, and I'm gonna conquer it. And I'm going to make sure you do it too, Jaden, because I know the love I hold for this place…and I know you hold it just as close to your heart as I do."

I felt the sting in my eyes, and balled my fists tighter. I almost tripped up in my pacing, but I kept going.

"Let's do this, alright…?"

I nodded. Taking a breath and shutting my eyes, desperately trying to muster any and all strength, of any and all form that I could possibly contain. I needed every bit of it right now more than ever in my life, I think. I opened my eyes and stopped my pace, which stopped Heathers, and then we launched at each other.

I stomped her foot which surprised her, and then spun an elbow to the face, which had her staggering back. I went for a punch to her stomach, and I got one in before I took a hit to the jaw that rocked me around before steadying again. I felt the burn in my chest that had less to do with human reaction linked to my emotions and everything to do with my power linked to all of me. I took a shaky breath and kept on, though, finding it just a smidge easier to do so as I swung another few hits that were block, but not the kick I shot at her ribs which curled her and I shoved her to the a ground, coming at her.

"You will fight!"

I was stalled again, the voice I just heard, sounding far off, almost unreal, but unnervingly familiar.

"Do as you are told! Or that nightmare of yours WILL become your reality!"

Ryuma. My throat goes dry as I take a step back, which brings Heather enough time to move to stand once more as I battle against the voice that had told me to kill the woman before me. That voice which had pushed this woman to nearly consider giving her life so me and my sister could survive together. That voice that began my hell.

But began the heaven that was Enterra as well, another voice spoke in my head as I just narrowly avoided a right hook to the nose, and I shoved Heather aside, staggering back and haphazardly preparing my defense. I didn't know who's voice it was in my head then, but I listened to it as it reminded me of the very fact that my first episode was of Ryuma throwing the dark card. His episodes were my first glimpse of the men I'd come to love, and the world I'd ached to be in.

A world that, even having watched the show over once more, I'd forgotten the wonder of. I caught Heather's fist, threw a punch myself, only for her to catch my fist as well.

I'd forgotten it all. As I began to swing myself and Heather to get her off balanced, I wished and begged deep within myself to whatever sources above of whatever degree—maybe, just maybe, I could start reminding myself.

Me: again, sorry if the pace of this isn't agreeing with you T^T but I feel like I need work out their trauma a bit before I get to anything—trying to be as realistic as is possible.
Mushra: yes, because walking talking bugs and dragons and elemental manipulation is the norm in your boring world.
Me: again, as realistic as possible, is what I said. If we wanna get more realistic, you wouldn't have grown taller *lying, but don't tell him that*
Mushra: WHAT?!
Me: yeah, so you should appreciate that little gift!
Mushra: I…..
Me: hope you all enjoyed, look for the next chapter, review if you liked~!