Once upon a time, somewhere in Rosas, there was a boy by the name of Armando. He helped Asha and her friends and allies overthrow Magnifico of his wrong-doing, by blending in and disguised as one of the knights. He was not in the city due to saving Simon from his spell, not before being trampled by some rabbits. Simon apologizes to Armando, just as the latter forgives the former, knowing well that Magnifico persuaded him to work against his will.
Armando didn't live in Rosas, but visited from his homeland after hearing enough about Magnifico's claimed protection. And as Armando visited the chamber with the Wishes inside, he knew something's wrong. But kept it all to himself, quiet about it until the right time has come and few of his people including Asha and his own wife, Amaya, worries about his obsession.
As they see all the wishes float away thanks to Asha's friends and the Star (whom Armando names Luma), Magnifico traps them all under his magic, forcing the two to race to the city, hoping to save them from his grasp. But as they approach, they can hear the faint singing from Asha high above, then more people sing, it gets louder and louder as they approach the gate to the city. And as soon as they arrived, the spell's broken, the wishes and Luma are free and Magnifico's sucked into the mirror on his own sceptre; they were relieved and thankful.
And now with Magnifico imprisoned in the mirror, Amaya becomes the new ruler of Rosas, and Armando takes the book of dark magic to destroy it, making sure she and/or anyone else become just as corrupted as him. But after destroying it, he witnesses Simon forgiven and hugged by his friends, Armando smiling to see him forgiven, but has no time to introduce himself to Asha and her friends as Armando thinks of going back home.
But then, something in his mind reminds him of something; a wish he made long ago, but never came true for one reason or another: he wanted to leave this world, into the stars and explore worlds beyond and hope to see what life lies on those worlds. So he sits at the tree (unbeknownst to him is the tree Asha and her father sat when she was twelve). He sings (Time by Alan Parsons), getting the attention of Luma and wants to share his wish, we he gives. With the people's help and advice, he eventually got his wish come true: A rocket that'll deliver him up to the moon. He couldn't be any more proud of having to finally get the wish, having secretively helped the people of Rosas against Magnifico, having stolen their wishes and Asha liberated them by singing: Harmony breaking Discord.
And as Armando sends his fond farewell to the people and boarding the rocket, Bazeema closing the canopy, Simon kicking the stand off, Dahlia making final preparations before launch, Gabo lighting the fuse and Asha wishing Armando good luck for his journey, just as he snaps his fingers to make a thumbs up.
AND...
Nothing happens.
Well, at first.
What seems like a disappointment for Armando, is merely delayed for a few seconds as Luma gives the rocket a well deserved ignition before blasting him off of the launch pad, taking him up to the heavens and the crowd below roars with applause, having fulfilled his wish of going to worlds beyond.
That dream however is cut short.
He is going to a world beyond, but the closest he could ever go to: THE MOON!
Its a good thing he's prepared for the trip to the Moon as he's supplied with water and a book to read for three days to make it there. How he'll dispense out of his system is through a latch and into a box that stores it. But how he'll live without starving is a totally different story.
Three days passed and the rocket finally made it over The Moon, and upon entry, he felt pulled in, like he's about to crash onto the surface. Then one of the craters opens the door, bringing the rocket inside and into the depths of the only satellite orbiting around the Earth. What he finds inside is a spaceport full of spacecraft to and from alien worlds beyond. Having spent three days into the rocket with no food, he's finally relieved to open out of the rocket and into the environment, though wearing a spacesuit, should there be no atmosphere inside.
But of course, there is an atmosphere, sealed tight since its underground. So he takes off his helmet just as some aliens approach him and ask him where he's from.
His name's Armando Cortez of the Planet Earth and means no harm to them. He has no job and wishes to get one here. He does not intend to live here forever so he can buy a rocket that could send him back to Earth.
Much to his disappointment, the aliens don't understand what he's saying and takes him over to guest room in the spaceport and put a device on his neck, translating what the alien says to him and in turn translating what he's saying to the aliens. Like before, he introduces himself and wishes to get a job here, now the aliens can properly understand him but tells him he'll have to get one on his own by at least taking brochures from companies who are looking for employees to hire. He still can't understand the text written on the brochures but he can see the images on what they're about, like pickling plants, accounting, travel agency, guard duty, janitorial work, blacksmithing, engineering, student driving etc.
Naturally, having been disguised as a knight back on Rosas during his plan to overthrow Magnifico, he takes the job of guard duty, specifically as a security guard in a mall. Inspecting, checking and looking out for any troublemakers in the mall. And those troublemakers do indeed show up. At first, they seem to be mischievous, but turn out to be an even worse adversary for Armando do deal with, as while Armando dealt with one of them, the others done the damage they've done, what he caught was a distraction and the others came for their own and knock Armando out.
When he recovered, he was scolded for not doing his job and fired out, much to his confusion. As he walks off, thinking of his wish was a mistake and wanted a do over, he sees a newspaper involving a gang that recently attacked the mall with a symbol of what looks like a wasp with fiery colours, Armando thusly calls them the FireWasps. But how is ever going to stop them causing more damage not just here but other places inside the Moon? He's got no job, his skills are weak and there's no chance he'll ever return home alive. So of course he desperately asks people to help him fight the gang, but they're either afraid of him or won't care, given they're unstoppable. Nobody has or ever will beat the FireWasps.
That is until someone shows up; an elder female alien who knows all too well about them and their shenanigans. She invites him over to her place. Armando, reluctant at first, follows her since she could be the only person who can help him. And as they arrive at her place, she tells him about how she lost her children to them, and their grandchildren held hostage by them. She tried stopping them, but given her current age, she's powerless. She too tried to find people to help her stop the FireWasps' plundering and pillaging, but they end up just like for Armando. They're too scared to fight against Six beings who were carrying guns when all what the old lady have is a bow and arrows. Seeing Armando younger than her, she'll teach him how to use them. If he's going to fight the gang, he must also save her grandchildren, to which Armando would gladly accept. Plus she's making food for herself and Armando to share, something Armando can finally have after what seems to be four days since the last time he ate something. The food itself, while not as good as he thought it would, its still nutritious and keeps him alive from starvation, plus some water to share as well, after the water needed to be boiled to destroy any potential bacteria from building up.
With her guidance, sharing, wisdom and food sharing, Armando is ready to face off against the FireWasps, who decide to come over to her place and chat about giving them what they want. Madame Lepsha refuses, for she found help from nowhere. Armando springs out of hiding and aims his arrow right at the gang, much to their disbelief and points their guns at the two. Armando pushes Lepsha away (he heard them calling her name thanks to the translator), and fights off the gang. Though more experienced then Armando, he's still making progress thanks to Lepsha's training. But they're still stupid tough, overpowering the two and even fatally wounding Lepsha. They then take whatever they can find in her home and set fire to it. Armando goes over to Lepsha, who's lifeless body has been crushed by the stronger gang, still remembers to save her grandchildren and felt he now has her torch to carry, to find and defeat the gang.
He takes what this subterranean nature offers, food and water to keep him alive and packs them in his bag along with the other things he needs should he return to Earth like rocks, plants and other assortments. He then encounters the gang again, but hides from a distance and see what they're plotting next. He over hears that they're going to ransack where they call Dorn'Croc...and dash off over there.
So what else can he do now that there's nothing he can do to stop them, despite having little amount of training for Lepsha? Well, wishing upon a star, getting the attention of another star from beyond and over to into The Moon. This star, seeing the world all around them, looked very bleak and hopeless, looks over Armando and wonders what he wants.
Help.
So the Star turns some of the wild animals sentient, particularly making one of them his steed, allowing him to give chance and halt the gang from reaching Dornmagocrockl Whatever.
He passed the gang and stops right in front of him, they grew annoyed of him and want him out of the way so they can take whatever they want from the city, but Armando won't budge, leading into yet another fight. The Star (or Stella Armando calls it following Luma back on Earth) makes a shield from rock for Armando, blocking the gang's gunfire from hitting him. He then uses that bow and arrow for the first time proper on one of the gang members, shooting one of them at her arm, then another on his back.
Armando intimidates them, telling them they can't have whatever city's name is again, as long as he lives, something the gang and their leader Urnherb isn't worried about. They've got all the weapons, the treasures, supplies and skills to take what they see as theirs. To build an empire all for themselves, leaving the poor beg and kneel before them. And they can make Armando kneel before them at any second.
Just then, an alien monster bursts out of nowhere, having been granted by Stella to protect Armando, much to his relief and hugs them. Its appearance makes the gang shoot at it to kill it off, consequently as Urnherb is about to shoot at Armando, he's out of bullets, same goes for the rest, forcing them to retreat to reload and make their raid at Dorn'Croc another time.
With the gang technically defeated for the first time, Armando sings about life worth fighting for in this world that may as well should be his new home. He doubts himself his return as he must defeat the gang who will no doubt rule the moon, maybe even reach Earth. But Stella sings with him, he will return home; but just like with Magnifico back on Earth, another world needs a hero. And Armando is that hero.
The two head for Dorn'Croc to warn the people of the incoming FireWasps, even going straight to their king: Nebuchadnezzar. Though not the same back on Earth, but close enough. After bathing and changing into new clothes after his spacesuit's torn apart during his stay, The King won't believe it, nor should he be prepared for it once they arrive. They can take whatever they like, letting them build their empire to rule as he sees them as worthy rulers. Armando won't allow it, pointing out that if they rule the Moon (Knowhere the king refers it as but Armando still calls it the moon), then they'll take the Earth. And if they taken Earth, they'll take another planet, and another, and another, and another. If they take theses worlds, what will be left for Neb? This makes Neb think for a moment, telling his guard to take Armando out of the throneroom and back into the public, Armando, for now, is allowed to roam freely and have whatever water to drink and food to eat to keep him nourished, but he still must wait for the FireWasps to come.
Before eating, though, Armando keeps training himself to fight, protecting the people as he does so in the gardens. Once he's worn out, then he eats and drinks, taking breaks to keep him motivated, that and the alien monster from earlier visits, nuzzling his chest as his guardian; Armando accepts.
Meanwhile in the FireWasps' lair, they sing together about how much time they've spent plundering and pillaging the towns and cities they've taken, treating the people like dirt and getting away with it with their guns, brawns and intimidations. They weren't just normal people who broke and gone berserk, they were bad seeds, born to be wild and bad. And now they have their sights set on Dorn'Croc, robbing such a wealthy and tranquil city to expand their empire, with only a few more ripe for the picking. And all the while, Lepsha's grandkids...well, lets save that for later.
How or why they haven't settled or even visited this world?
Well, they have, just not interested in interacting with the inhabitants, should their existence be compromised. The people in the moon, not the FireWasps. But they will if they can get their hands on the info or just go outside Knowhere with a spaceship.
But the time has come, when the artificial sunlight shines one Dorn'Croc, Armando wakes up and brings his bow, arrows and shield, walking in front of the gate to await the incoming gang, squaring them off head on, Stella bringing plants and animals to life and soldiers dispatched by King Neb himself to aid Armando in battle, having realized what he mean't the night before.
As the gang approaches the city, they arm themselves and plot to shoot them all down, only to be deflected by the shields (thanks to Stella), then the monster smashes onto the gangs' bikes, making them draw discard their guns and draw their blades, charging at the soldiers in front. Armando, thought he was going to have his moment, but all the soldiers were already pinning down the gang. Armando tells them to let them go, let them return to the lair (so they can be tracked so the grandkids can be found for Lepsha). They reluctantly accept and let them go, Armando following while the few soldiers followed behind him, lest he'd be killed by them upon finding out about their fate.
As they returned to the lair, the gang still unfazed by what just happened and still plot on taking over the world, even if they're now down to three, despite Armando seeing two of them. One of them could have infiltrated the city and taken it, or perhaps killed upon being spotted. Turns out, he (Enigma) found Armando and holds him at gunpoint and takes over to his pals (Nyx and Leminx). Armando demands to know what happened to the kids, something Nyx would not want to show him, they're too scared to show him (sarcastically). Armando insists, and Nyx gives in, taking him over to them...they're dead. He can only hear his own heartbeat, failed his mission for Lepsha as the gang never bother feeding the kids or giving them water. They let them suffer and die; slowly and painfully, like songs to the FireWasps. Leminx aims his gun at the motionless body of Armando's.
This could be the very moment where he'll die.
But luckily or unluckily for you, this ain't that kind of story.
The soldiers who followed attacked Enigma, distracting Lemnix to allow Armando to break free and pummel him down with his barehands. Armando bawls his eyes out with both sadness and anger that he failed, but at least he'll give the FireWasps a taste of their own medicine. But then, the monster pulls him back and the soldiers arresting Leminx, the last of the gang and have him sentenced to prison for life; kidnapping, child abuse murdering, piracy, illegal trading, etc. The soldiers call a dropship to pick them up and contain Lemnix, leaving only Armando, Stella and the monster on their own.
Armando now doesn't want to be honoured as a hero, he just wants to go home, forget most of what happened here and pretend he'd never come to both Rosas and The Moon, writing it off as fiction. He's speechless of it all and just wants to be left alone. He's scared he'll break and become just like the FireWasps. But Stella rests on his chest. Singing to him to calm him down and recover. He's right, there is life worth fighting for in this world. And with Knowhere safe from the gang, the people can only hope for better things to come. Even though what the FireWasps' left behind was in ruins, someone better will come in and take back what they've lost.
Instead Stella promises to Armando he can stay in Knowhere for a year, get a better glimpse of the world and reflect on what happened before. He can still get a job here so he can make money, rent an apartment and be well nourished until he's ready to return home once the time comes. Armando hugs her, thanking her for calming him down. He'll never forget, from his first arrival to his failed mission and near-death.
Armando later pays a visit over to King Neb, thanking him for understanding the problem that was solved a month ago just as Neb felt relieved that he hasn't become a monster just like the FireWasps, and Armando has his monster companion, maybe even a friend than a pet since Stella sprinkled that dust that gave the monster intelligence. But when Neb asks Armando if he's gonna come back soon, Armando doubts that, still having a life back on Earth to return to, plus the tech back home was primitive compared to everyone else's here in Knowhere.
They hugged and say their farewells for now.
Days later, and Armando visits the graves of Lepsha, her children and grandchildren following their deaths, paying his respects and letting them know that Knowhere is becoming a better place now. He wishes them all safe journey up into the heavens and his fond farewell as he's about to leave soon.
As his year is up and ready to go home, he sings about how, no matter where he'd go, it'll feel the same. A beautiful yet broken world. As ugly and heinous it is one side, the other is just as wonderful and welcoming. He says his goodbye to the people and Stella before launching from the Moon back to Earth, first landing on Rosas and then back to his homeland, writing to account his experience in two different worlds and made it back home alive and well.