Chapter 18: The Encounter ~ Figures that Looked Oddly Familiar

As Keith and Twilight have stepped into the room, Keith can see the room is filled with a load of weapons. Swords, knives, bows, arrows, crossbows, etc. Keith's eyes grew wide as he saw the armory is full of everything that he had ever seen. "So," Twilight smirked. "What do you think?"
"I think that…" Keith almost lost his words, "It was…amazing."
"I know," Twilight chuckled. "Pretty cool huh."
"Not as cool if you use them properly," a voice spoke. Both Twilight and Keith turned to their right, seeing a man standing within the shadows with his arms crossed.
"Luther," Twilight spoke as her eyes turned red. "Do you have to scold me whenever I tried to use one of these weapons?"
"Always," he stepped out of the shadows.
Keith jumped as he recognized the man. The man has tan skin, a pair of royal blue eyes that is shining against the light-yellow cornea, indigo Altean-like markings on his face, pointed elf-like eyes, and silver hair that is in a ponytail. The man is also wearing sky blue armor with indigo markings, silvery-purple clothes underneath it, a black belt, silver tights, a pair of silver and gold wrist bands, and indigo boots. It was almost like he was on training duty for battles. However, the face that Keith is staring at has brought back a memory that he wished not to remember. Keith growled as he felt his ears flatten on his head.
"Huh?" Twilight turned to Keith as her eyes turned indigo and camouflage.
The man's eyes saddened with guilt as he stares at Keith, "Relax cub," the man spoke as he remains calm. "I'm not an enemy, and I won't harm you."
Keith stopped growling, "Sorry," Keith relax a bit. "Your face…"
"What about it?" The man asked.
"It just…just reminds me of someone from long ago," Keith answered. "And I wished that I don't have to remember about it."
"I see," the man spoke as he understood.
"Don't worry about it," a woman's voice spoke. The woman's voice has a British accent with a mixture of Altean, full of comfort and concern overwhelmed him. Keith turned to his left. A figure of a woman is standing right next to the man. "My cousin might get that a lot whenever or if he goes out of Heaven to do his job."
"Oh, so true." The man nodded, "But not all the time," suddenly the woman stepped out from the shadows.
Keith's ears straighten upward as he saw a familiar face that he hasn't seen in years. The woman he sees has sky blue eyes, tan skin, also have pointed elf-like ears, silver flowing hair, and pink Altean markings on her face. She is also wearing a sailor suit with a pink and turquoise skirt, silver body armor that covers her abdomen, a winged bow that has pink and turquoise tips that are connected with long turquoise and pink sash on the back, a pair of turquoise high-heels, a pair of silver shin guards with a crystal that is attached to it, a turquoise and a pink bow on her chest with a crystal in the middle of the bow, long white sleeves with pink and turquoise holders above her elbows, a pair of silver armbands that also has a crystal attached, a pink and turquoise sailor collar cape, an pink and turquoise choker with a crystal hanging, a pair of crystal earrings, and a golden Altean tiara with a turquoise crystal gem in the middle.
As Keith finished examining both the woman and the man, Keith sniffed at both. The man smelled like charcoal with a mixture of cosmic rock from space. The woman smelled like juneberry from Altea and Neo Altea. Allura's favorite flower... Keith thought. How…? Keith wondered. Suddenly, he smelled four other distinct scents within the room. But the scent is very small, and he doesn't know where it is coming from. He shook his head and decided to ask later. Suddenly, Twilight places her hand on Keith's shoulder.
"Keith," Twilight began. "These two are one of our top guardians in the Royal One's Palace, Luther, and Aurora. You both may introduce yourselves."
"Thank you, your highness." The man spoke, "My name is Luther: a Demonic and Angelic Winged Celestial Being; Power of Character Swap; and a Celestial Bodyguard of the Eldest Sibling of the Royal Ones. In other words, I am Twilight's Bodyguard and Guardian."
"Umm, okay." Keith nearly stuttered, "But what do you mean by Demonic and Angelic Winged?"
"That means that I am part Angel and part Fallen," Luther answered. "But I am a good half-breed with a strong changed heart, so there's no need to be afraid of."
"Okay, umm…" Keith sighed, "What is a Character Swap?"
"Do the short version please!" Twilight panicked while her eyes are black.
"Of course, your highness." Luther nodded, then turned to Keith. "If you see both of my wings have swapped places and my attitude has changed. Make sure that you get yourself out of the room because it won't be pretty when it comes to that."
"Is it similar to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde thing?" Keith asked.
Both Twilight; eyes changed to indigo and black, and Aurora jumped.
"Yes, it's almost similar to like that." Luther shrugged, "But more deadly."
"Okay, umm…thanks for the warning," Keith nearly felt like he is sweating within his fur.
"Anytime," Luther smiled.
Twilight sighed as her eyes turned white.
"Well, my turn." Aurora cleared her throat, "My name is Aurora: a Sailor Scout to Be Celestial Being; Power of Healing, combining, the bonding and to lead of combat; A Sailor Guardian of an Altean Soul; and I am the Heiress of Heaven's Guardian. In other words, I am Violet's Bodyguard and Guardian."
"What?" Keith nearly jumped, "Did you say…?"
"Squeak!" four strange squeaking sounds have appeared.
Everyone except Aurora jumped, then they all have look down. Seeing mice, waving their paws towards Keith. One mouse is big and its fur is in the color green, one mouse is mid-big and its fur is in the color pale rose-gray with bright pink eyes, one mouse is skinny and its fur is in the color of bluish-gray with ruby red eyes, and the last mouse is the smallest of the group and its fur is a light blue color with bright blue eyes and a white patch on its head. All at once, Keith suddenly recognized the scent from earlier.
Keith smiled in delight, "Platt, Chuchule, Plachu, Chulatt." Keith scoop them up into his gloved hand-claws.
The Altean mice squeaked happily as they saw their friend have recognized them in return.
"Dude, you know these mice?" Twilight asked as her eyes twitched with the color turned to hazel and indigo.
"Yup," Keith nodded. "The mice belong to a friend of mine and that's how I know them, and in fact, they are Altean Mice. So no need to worry about it."
"Altean Mice?!" Twilight jumped with her eyes widened and changed to color fully indigo.
Keith nodded, "But how did you guys get here? To Heaven, I mean."
"The mice were stowed away on your ship," Aurora answered. "They told me that they have sneaked in without noticing while a rescue team was saving you. And attached to you while you didn't notice either, planning to help you out for escaping route. So, they could make sure that you could get out from captivity, but not alone."
"How did you know that?" Luther asked, dumbfounded.
"The mice told me," Aurora answered.
"What?" both Luther and Twilight raised a brow. "You can understand them?"
"Yes, I can." Aurora nodded, "After all, I am an Altean Soul being. So I am connected to Altean Beings."
"She's got a point," Luther rubbed his chin.
Keith smiled with no question in his head, he looks at the mice. "Thanks for your company guys," he thanked the mice.
The mice squeak happily. Keith put the mice back on the floor. The mice scampered back to Aurora, climbing onto her. Then sat onto her shoulders.

As the mice are settled onto Aurora's shoulders, Aurora smiled happily while she has new friends to companies with.
"Okay, then." Twilight nearly stuttered.
"What is it?" Luther asked.
"I better go," Twilight replied as her eyes turned pale lavender. "So, you guys could be left alone, and be able to teach Keith how to be a new Bodyguard for my little sister."
"Wait, what?" Aurora jumped.
"Young lady, you better get back here." Luther fatherly scolded her.
"Love to but can't." Twilight giggled, "See you later," Twilight stepped into the shadows and disappeared without a trace.
While Twilight is gone, Luther begins to steam up as both Aurora, the Altean Mice, and Keith has stood silently. "So…" Aurora spoke, "Is there an explanation about what she has said?"
"Yeah, there is." Keith nodded. Suddenly, both Keith and Aurora started to see Luther begin to grunt as he steams up with anger.
"Please start," Aurora offered. "Before my cousin explodes and does his Character Change."
"Uh, sure." Keith sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck, "Where should I start?"
"Start to explain why here in this room please!" Luther barked, "Including the reason why and what Twilight had said before she left."
"Uh sure, I could work with it." Keith cleared his throat, "Here's what happened." Keith began to tell them his story about what he had done.