Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 9

Chapter 34: The Sweetest Blessings

(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)

Gwylthid Island, one week ago…

It was a calming night on Gwylthid Island as the animals in the sanctuary were getting restless. The numerous tithings of livestock and large fish were plenty as the fishermen were calling it a night before going back home. When they brought over a freshly caught Maagho tuna, they were on their way to a cave as it was lit by a fire feather over some dry wood. When they set down the Maagho tuna, they saw a white Bengal tiger in labor as her mate was worried about her. They knew of her and her mate very well as they also saw that she was delivering something precious, for it would be an omen that would soon occur.

"Set the fish down," said Serena as she entered into the cave the moment the fishermen placed it on the rocky ground. "Jor-El is worried about my adopted daughter, Rika, in which he wants witnesses to see the birth."

"By the gods…," said one of the fishermen as he was scared at the presence of Serena.

"You are not leaving! You and your friends are here to witness a prophecy in the making!"

One of the fishermen saw Rika still trying to go into push as he gently helped her while the rest of his friends brought out their coats to catch the upcoming cubs. When he saw one of the cubs emerge first, a surge of raw power rushed through as he caught the cub and gave him to his mother. When the other cub emerged, he was out in the open as Rika ate the afterbirth to collect the nutrients. Even Jor-El was grateful as he nudged at Rika for welcoming the cubs into the world, for they were also born with the sigil of raw power on their foreheads.

"This is new," said one of the fishermen.

"It is a prophecy that occurred in which they gave their lives to protect the surprises that Lady Reiko carried," said Serena. "The newborn cubs will be with their parents and the rest of our family, for we will take care of them and protect them from harm."

"Gods be praised," said another fisherman.

Jor-El roared with gratitude as he stayed by Rika's side in which he helped to care for the newborn cubs who emerged earlier. As for what happened next, the fishermen left the cave as they wanted the new family to have their space in which they also didn't want to end up on the menu. Just as they were about to return to their trawler, they saw a drowner coming towards them as it pinned one of the fishermen faced down on the wet sand. The fisherman was no match for the drowner and its strong weight until it felt a talon pierce it when it was flung into the air. What the drowner didn't expect was that a phoenix was killing it in which it felt the bird's talons burning it until it was charred to a crisp the moment it fell to the ground. When the fisherman got up, he saw the phoenix standing there as it was glad that he and the other fishermen were safe, for the bird didn't tolerate the presence of drowners.

"Gods be praised," he said as he heard the phoenix squawking loudly.

"We should leave," said another fisherman as he didn't want to deal with another drowner.

"Thank you…" The fisherman saw the phoenix butt its head at him as he was glad that he wasn't dead by drowning. "We'll be on our way now, but I suggest that you protect those tigers and their cubs with your life. You don't know when or where those drowners could show up in which you have to be on your guard."

The phoenix squawked loudly as it left the beach. As for what the fishermen saw, they had to do their best to help the new family as the presence of drowners was something that plagues everyone who lived near water. Watching in the distance, Serena saw the fishermen depart as she was also concerned about the presence of drowners who recently entered into her island sanctuary, for she didn't want them to hurt her family and the new cubs that were born with it…

Present day…

Gyatso was at the stillborn shrine as he was setting another diorama in it. The sight of a Thundercats diorama was mainly a work of art that was similar to the SuperFriends one with the Hall of Justice background in it as it also had the Cat's lair in the background with the action figures. Gyatso was happy that the shrine was getting toys to play with until he saw me wheeling myself back home after going shopping for the festivities that were for Thanksgiving. Even though I was under the weather with the morning sickness, I had to help out as I didn't do much on the field, for I had to get back to the castle before I got scolded for taking off earlier.

"I take it that you got bored from being stuck in bed," said Gyatso.

"I'm used to being in a wheelchair," I said.

"If Reiko caught you, she'll force you to go back to bed."

"I was in the square to get a few things, but I also had to pick up some prenatal vitamins as well."

"Well, Reiko did finish off the last bottle…"

"She needed them for nutrients that get sapped from her in which she also has to nurse Pippa and Raizo. After all that has happened to her, the surprise that she had was lucky in which the ones she lost were brave enough to protect them. As for them being reincarnated, they're with their family in which their parents refuse to abandon them."

"There you are!"

Reiko caught me as I was about to be wheeled back in the castle. When she did so, we were ready to go back until we noticed a phoenix on the beach. The bird itself was a female as she was reeling from an injury in which her wing took damage. What I didn't expect was that the bird stared at me for some odd reason as if it knew me long ago, for she ended up nudging at me, but was careful.

"I take it that you're wanting my help," I said.

"Sammy…, the phoenix's wing is hurt," said Reiko.

"It seems that you went up against some drowners." The phoenix squawks loudly as she was trying to flap her wing. "You ran into a drowner nest, didn't you?"

"You poor thing…" Reiko approaches the phoenix as she uses her Nephilim abilities to heal her wing. "There now; that's better…"

Reiko notices some slime on the phoenix's talon as she had a feeling that the drowners were about to infest Gwylthid Island. Even Gyatso noticed that the bird was someone who was reincarnated from the Elder Days as she was someone that my past self knew, but ended her suffering when she turned into a werewolf back then. When he saw the slime, he knew that he had to alert Dean's unit as he didn't have time to waste, for he also didn't want the drowners to hurt the newborn tiger cubs as well.

"You must be Madison," he said as the phoenix squawked loudly. "I take it that you've been protecting those tigers, aren't you?"

"How do you know who she is?" asked Reiko.

"In life, she got bit and turned in a werewolf, but the Sam of Old had no other choice but to end her suffering back then. This time, she's asking for help to protect the cubs and get rid of the drowner nest."

"It's a shame that I can't do much because of the four little stinkers I'm carrying," I said.

"I'll do it," said Dirk as he rushed towards us. "If we can put the kibosh on the drowners on Cordell Island, we can flush them out of Gwylthid Island."

"Does Dean know about this?"

"He knew of it after getting reports from some of the locals coming and going to supply stray livestock for the animals who live there. The place is full of endangered animals like big cats and phoenixes in which it's mainly a sanctuary for them until the drowners decided to cause trouble."

It wasn't long until Dean arrived as he wasn't too happy with me being out and about like that. He ended up wheeling me inside of the castle as he wasn't having it in which I had to have strict bedrest due to what I was carrying. With Reiko and the others following, we were all in the infirmary wing as I was put in a hospital room once more. By the time I crawled in my hospital bed, I was covered up in warm blankets as I had no other choice but to stay put, for I was also with child after all.

"You may have the gall to go to town and get vitamins, but you can't get past me," said Dean.

"The little ones keep sapping what I eat and I can't go without them," I said.

"And look what you got in the bag…," Dean looks into my bag as he takes out the prenatal vitamins I bought along with a few boxes of protein bars and a bottle of cranberry juice. "You're probably noshing on stuff fit for dieters and bodybuilders, but you need real food." I see him get out a box of Cheeze-Its and Goldfish from my bag. "The Fab Four aren't messing around, are they?"

"He can't help it," said Reiko. "The little ones can be ravenous, but Sammy also has to eat to replenish what they feed off of him."

"Speaking of which, I got reports of drowners attacking the suppliers to Gwylthid Island in which some of them nearly died from being smothered face down. Still, you're not up to snuff 'cause I'm going over there to flush out a drowner nest. For the record, drowners are weak against fire and silver."

"And I'll remedy that," said Dirk as he revealed a backpack filled with phoenix grenades. "We all know that drowners are dangerous in which they nearly infested Cordell Island."

"And I used my raw power against my wishes to destroy the nest," I said.

I remembered that time as I was forced by Maro to use what I had to destroy the drowner nest in Cordell Island last year. Even though I was still staying put in my furlough, I had no other choice but to have Dean and his unit pull the weight and flush out the drowner nest, for it was his job as being part of the Hunter Corps after all.

"So, I'm bogged down again…," I said.

"That's 'cause I'll be the one kicking ass and taking names on the mission at hand," said Dean.

"I worry so much about everyone in which this isn't our first rodeo with drowners."

"Hey, you may wanna help, but first and foremost, Sam, you need bedrest, B-E-D-R-E-S-T! I know you get bored easily, but I've had much bigger missions that kept me on my toes. Besides, you've got four little passengers to take care of." I see Dean give the thumbs-up as he was ready to go on his mission. "Wish me luck…"

I didn't say another word as I laid down in my hospital bed. With Reiko and the others leaving the room, I was hoping for the best as the mission to clear out a drowner nest was just the beginning of what was yet to come, for I also had faith in Dean and his unit when it came to hunting down monsters…

Dean was ready to go as he was waiting for the ferry towards Gwylthid Island. With his usual weapons, he was ready to set out as he later noticed Dirk giving him his bag of phoenix grenades for the mission. Even though Dirk was still a cadet, he wasn't allowed to go on further missions yet as it wasn't allowed until he turned eighteen, for it was the typical age to be an adult after all. When he saw the rest of Dean's unit, they were ready to go towards Gwylthid Island as the time to take out a drowner nest was a go, for those monsters were very dangerous to everyone.

"Listen up!" he yelled. "This mission to Gwylthid Island will be a long one 'cause there will be drowners lurking all over the place. None of us forgot how they infested Cordell Island last year and now, they're lurking all over another island. Sooner or later, we'll find and take out the nest, for they won't see it coming."

Dirk was ready to see Dean and the others off on their mission as he was happy that they were going over to Gwylthid Island to find and eliminate the drowner nest. When he saluted them, he was ready to go back to the citadel until he was stopped by Serena, who appeared out of nowhere. She wasn't having it as she was disappointed that the new cadet didn't go on the mission, for she ended up cornering Dirk for not going with his unit. He was very intimidated by Serena's size as she was sitting on her haunches, for she wasn't about to let him off the hook yet.

"It is a mistake for you to stay behind, young man," she said.

"Look, I can't go on real missions until I'm eighteen," said Dirk as he was shaking with fear.

"Your superior and subordinates are walking into a trap! You should've gone with them in which the drowners will overwhelm them if they don't have the proper equipment to get rid of the vile creatures! Therefore, Madison had her reasons to fly here to plead for help after the drowners went and killed her mate. As for their eggs, they're in safe keeping with the remainder of my children in which they're put over here until the drowners are flushed out of our home."

"Eggs?"

Serena showed Dirk towards a cave near the citadel as he noticed four hatchlings emerging from their eggshells. What he also noticed was that Jor-El and his family were there as they were brought here to safety, for it wasn't safe in their home on Gwylthid Island. Still, the family had to flee as the presence of drowners was alarming in which they had no choice but to stay here until the danger was gone, for it was necessary to do so.

"I tawt I taw a puddy tat," said Dirk as he saw Jor-El with his family.

"They were not here by choice," said Serena. "They're here until the drowners are found and flushed out of our home."

"Normally, drowners often take out Terrans and other humanoids, but they don't harm animals unless they get hungry."

"The drowners became much worse because they fear the surge of raw power that killed their brethren on Cordell Island last year. They fear the presence of those who serve the god of the Ashizoka System in which their brethren also died in the Freleng. Now, they know about the prophecy in the surge of raw power on our island in which Jor-El's cubs have imprints of raw power on their foreheads. Madison had to get help in which you are the only one who can destroy drowners with those phoenix grenades."

"I gave them to Dean. And as for the drowner threat, he'll find the nest because he's been in the Hunter Corps for—"

Serena was ready to unleash her angelic aura on Dirk for "not doing the right thing" as she was putting the fear of God int him. Just as she was about to do so, she was stopped by Jor-El as he didn't want her to cause stress on Rika, the cubs, and Madison's hatchlings, for he also didn't want to arouse suspicion at this moment. Dirk never expected the tiger to stand up to the grand warg as he was also a new father to his cubs, for this wasn't the time to argue right now.

"That boy needs to rescue his superior," said Serena as Jor-El growls in dismay. "He cannot sit idly by when his captain and subordinates are in danger of the drowners."

"You found something, didn't you?" asked Dirk as Jor-El growls sincerely.

Dirk followed Jor-El as he later spotted him near a pile of slime. He knew of it to be drowner residue as he was no stranger to dealing with the infestation that nearly crippled Cordell Island last year. What he later noticed was that a piece of scrap was beneath the slime as it came from a Draaza ship that was abandoned centuries ago, for he had to get to Dean before it was too late.

"This is new," he said as he examined the scrap. "I never saw anything like it before until now."

Jor-El growls with worry as he knew where the drowner nest came from.

"This scrap has a name…" Dirk sees it on there as it was in faded letters. "'McKimson?'" Jor-El growls. "You must've stumbled onto a drowner nest and found a ship, didn't you? I have to warn Dean and the others, but the only ferry to your island left thirty minutes ago."

"There is still a way, Dirk," said Serena as she caught up to him. "The one who will take you there will direct you to where the drowner nest is." Madison flies down to where they are as she is squawking loudly while landing on the ground. "She knows what happened there when drowners killed her mate and nearly tried to kill their hatchlings. Jor-El found the source where the drowner nest was, for it was a ship that was lost in memory."

"It's the McKimson, right?"

"The drowners are dangerous, for you need to warn your superior before it's too late."

Dirk noticed the slime surrounding the scrap burn away as he notices a dagger that emerged from it. Picking it up, he was ready to help Dean and the others as he got onto Serena's back and was ready to leave. He had to get to his unit as he noticed Serena teleporting him to Gwylthid Island, for they were in the source where the drowner nest was. The place was a derelict as Dirk got off of Serena's back and went inside of the Draaza ship. He never saw anything like it before as it was mainly a research ship complete with several specimens of animals that were empty. He was in the McKimson's laboratory as it was mainly a place for animal preservation, for the area was thousands of years old to be exact.

"This is new…," he said.

Without warning, his presence alerted a pair of drowners as he had to defend himself against them. With the dagger in his hand, he saw one of the creatures lunge at him until he stabbed it in which it caught fire and turned to ash, The dagger in his hand was burning as it was imbued with something other than the usual metals forged into it. The other drowner was ready to attack him until he noticed it being stuck with a pair of phoenix blades when it crumbled into ash, for he knew who was there to bail him out. It was Nibori who was there to clear out the drowner nest as she was also concerned about the fate of Dean and his unit, for they were walking into a trap.

"Thanks for the assist," said Dirk.

"I hope that Dean and the others don't get swamped by those things," said Nibori.

"This place is where the drowner nest is. I just hope that Dean gets here in time."

"Luckily, Serena bailed out the new family and a phoenix's hatchlings, but she doesn't trust them near this ship, I can tell you that."

"This place is called the McKimson. It was also a place where they kept a lot of animal specimens that must've ran loose for centuries."

Nibori saw Dean and his unit approaching as they were also dealing with some of the drowners that have infested Gwylthid Island. She wasn't out of it yet as she got out her plasma rifle and blasted some of them. The drowners spotted where the blast came from as they were running towards what was left of the McKimson. What Dirk noticed was that the drowners were angry at the fact that the nest was being disturbed as they were ready to defend it, for it was their place in the McKimson after all…

Dean made his way to Gwylthid Island as he and his unit were looking for the drowner nest there. The place itself was majestic, but secluded as Dean noticed several endangered animals stemming from big cats to bears hiding in the distance. Even Desna noticed them as he remembered one of the species of bear that was once brought to extinction until they rebounded centuries later. There were also the presence of grand wargs protecting the animals as one of them noticed Dean directly, for she leaped in front of him just to tell him of the infestation that overwhelmed the island.

"Dean Winchester," she said. "Mother said that you would be here, but she took off to find your new cadet to join the mission."

"Wait! Dirk's not eighteen yet," he said. "He can't go on missions until he reaches adulthood!"

"From what Godfrey told me after he died again and resurfaced from his ashes, he knows where the nest is."

A male phoenix is heard squawking in the distance as it flew down to where Dean and his unit was. In his talons, there was a pouch of ash as it came from his demise until he rose from what came from him. Desna knew of the plight of phoenixes very well as most of them were on the verge of extinction in which he saw one up close, for it was a sign for help. Still, the Hunter Corps had to find and take out the drowner nest as it was a threat to everyone on the island, for the monsters had to be taken down before they festered further.

"Our firebird has his own ashes, Captain," he said.

"You must be Godfrey," said Dean as the phoenix squawked.

"The bird brought his own ashes to craft what is needed to stave off the drowners." Desna sees a parchment wrapped around Godfrey's leg as he takes it from him. "It's a blueprint to craft phoenix grenades courtesy of Manuel Esparza from the Elder Days."

"And phoenix ash is the main ingredient to craft them with."

"Here's some crafting tools," said the grand warg as she brought out a large satchel full of equipment. "There's also the flint and aetherial metal to build more of the phoenix grenades because what you got in your backback isn't enough to take out the drowners."

"Thanks for the heads-up."

Without warning, a pack of drowners rushed towards Dean and his unit as they were running in droves. The grand warg in front of them rushed towards some of the drowners as she let out an angelic aura of her own. She wasn't about to let the monsters go towards Dean and his unit as he later took out one of the phoenix grenades from the backpack that Dirk gave him. With the pin pulled, he threw it at some of the drowners as they blew up into pieces in which the grand warg was grateful that she had backup, for it was worth it.

"There will be more of them," she said.

"And here comes the ugly-ass version of The Brady Bunch," said Dean as he saw several more drowners coming. "Look alive! Those things are weak against fire and silver! Take 'em out as soon as possible!"

The drowners were full of rage as they were ready to kill Dean and his unit, along with the grand warg that aided them. The influx of drowners overwhelmed them until they saw a laser blast being fired from somewhere. The blast enraged the monsters further as Dean now knew where the nest was, for he spotted it near a cluster of caves that had the wreckage of the McKimson. The influx of drowners were going towards the wreckage as Dean wasn't about to let them get away. He was also leading the charge against the monsters who infested the island sanctuary as he had to get rid of the nest, for it was his mission to dispose of it after all…

Dirk and Nibori were seeing the influx of drowners rushing into the McKimson as they were fortifying their efforts to stave off the attack. With their own weapons at the ready, they had to defend themselves as the drowners were rushing straight into the McKimson in droves. With a few parameters looked over, Dirk noticed something near the engine room as it was none other than a pustule. He never saw anything like it before as Nibori rushed into the engine room and noticed it eventually, for it was something that was well-known when it came to dealing with drowners.

"I found a giant zit," he said.

"That's no ordinary giant zit," said Nibori as she got out her Phoenix Blades. "It's a drowner nest and that pustule needs to be popped ASAP!"

"And here comes the ugly bunch…"

"Be on your guard! Drowners really love to smother you with what they have…"

Nibori saw the drowners breaking into the McKimson as they were running frantically. She was no stranger into fighting drowners as she sliced at a few before they turned to ash. Dirk, on the other hand, stared at the pustule that he found as he used that the dagger he procured to stab at it in which it was reacting to what it had. He noticed flames from the dagger as it burned at the pustule in which it later blew up before turning into ash. With the rest of the drowners reduced to ashes, Dirk and Nibori were glad to avert the threat as the worst was over, for he had to stay on the mission that Serena gave to him earlier.

"You finally succeeded to stop the drowner nest," she said as she appeared out of nowhere. "Your superior is coming in which he'll soon know about this derelict place that the drowners made into their home."

"I'm gonna get chewed out for this…," said Dirk.

"My daughter gave your superior the tools to craft more phoenix grenades, but you succeeded in finding what was hidden."

It wasn't long until Dean burst into the wreckage of the McKimson as he was aware of Dirk's bravery in finding and destroying the drowner nest. What he also noticed was that the place was a Draaza derelict as it was also a lab that preserved several animal specimens over the centuries, for it was a huge find after all. He also noticed Nibori looking at the abandoned scrap as she saw the numerous containers of various genetic animal material that manifested all over Valinor, for it was a link to the usual fauna that was there.

"'Ursus arctos?'" she said as she looked at a container that was shattered.

"This place was a lab that bred and took samples of the animals who were taken away from Earth," said Desna as he looked at the stasis tubes that once housed them. "My people had ways of preserving everything from Earth for a reason, but they had a soft spot for protecting the usual animals that were in danger."

"Sort of like lions, tigers, and bears."

"At least we saved everyone on this island," said Dirk as he was blushing out of embarrassment.

"You shouldn't be ashamed at your bravery, but next time, let the big boys handle it," said Dean.

"But you would've been unhinged, Captain."

"After getting chewed out by a talking grand warg, we had to help get rid of the drowners, but you ended up finding the nest and busting it up."

"I never saw anything like it before, but it looked like a giant zit."

"Well, you can't get rid of it with Stridex or Clearasil because of the fact that drowner nests are often operating with a hive mind," said Nibori. "You get rid of the nest, you take out the rest."

Without warning, a large horn is heard as Dean rushed out of the wreckage of the McKimson and went towards the beach. What he didn't expect was that a ferry was coming towards the island as he saw the Valinorian royal banner flapping in the wind. By the time that the ferry parked near the dock, a royal retinue arrived as they noticed that the drowner infestation was finally quelled. Florian was hard at work as he also noticed the ashen bodies of the creatures fallen onto the ground. He also noticed the animals living here come out of hiding as they were glad that the worst was over the moment Godfrey flew in front of him, for he was blessed that the drowners didn't scare them again.

"You must've had a long day after rebirthing yourself from the ashes while going up against those things," he said as Godfrey squawked loudly. "From what I heard, Madison and your hatchlings are safe on Skald Island in which they'll return home along with Jor-El and his family."

"I take it that you're fond of the refugees of Noah's Ark," said Dean.

"The animals who live here were born, bred, and later sent to other parts of this planet, Dean. It's also been said that a ship brought some of the animals that were deemed sacred here to Valinor in which the Chatterjee Clan reveres the presence of tigers."

"And my newest cadet found the source of where the animals came from."

Dean escorted Florian and his retinue as he made sure that no other animal attacked them. When they reached the McKimson, they went inside as they saw the wreckage of where the bulk of animal species came from. Florian never saw anything like it as he also saw the rest of Dean's unit combing over the derelict, for it was old and buried until the drowners invaded until they were destroyed here.

"Sorry about the mess," said Nibori as she was reading a journal she found that was in the Draaza language. "Whoever piloted this clunker and later had it crashing here really loved to preserve animals here."

"And our late preservers would've been proud that their pets thrived…," said Dean as he spotted pair of Draaza skeletons on the floor. "They really had a thing for taking care of animal specimens in which their work ended up giving Valinor a much bigger edge." He also spots an old piece of paper as it was mainly a flyer for an animal rights group. "They had a thing for preserving animals into fruition, but their fate ended up crashing here on this island."

"We should salt and burn the remains, Captain," said Desna. "It would be a way and mean to honor their memory if we did."

And so, Florian's retinue gathered up the remains of the Draaza scientists as they took them out of the McKimson. With everyone getting out of the wreckage, they noticed the rest of the group gathering up wood for a pair of funeral pyres. When the two skeletal Draaza corpse were salted and wrapped in shrouds, they were placed on the pyres as they were doused with gasoline and later burned, for this was a way to lay them to rest after being forgotten centuries ago.

"Almighty gods and the Matriarch, return these forgotten souls to the Grey Havens and grant them solace and peace," said Florian as he clasped his hands in prayer. "May their bodies be put to rest and return to the heavenly plain."

"Andezhka nir zhrigielur dahur, togrizhev amue zdol," said Desna in the Draaza language.

"Almighty M'Quii and all Her wisdom, grant solace to those who are waiting to cross the bridge to the plain," said Nibori.

The sight of the two funeral pyres burning was a way to lay rest the skeletal remains that were found in the wreckage of the McKimson. With the mission wrapped up, the time to bring the wayward animals back home to Gwylthid Island was next on the docket as it was also a way and mean to protect Jor-El and his family from the drowners, for they would soon return home after having to deal with the creatures who infested the island…

I was up in the middle of the night as I was stuck in my hospital bed. The fact that I was with child against my wishes was mainly business as usual as I also had no choice but to stay in bed for the next few months. After all the news I heard, I had to be up-to-date on things as I was also missing the thrill of the field work that was needed. It had been a few hours since Dean and his unit went on his mission as I was wondering if he succeeded in clearing out the drowners on Gwylthid Island. I was also starting to feel anxious as I feared the worst in which I remembered the drowner mess that was on Cordell Island last year, but I was stuck in bed for the rest of my months, for carrying a set of quadruplets wasn't fun for me.

"This is getting more boring than expected," I said as I stared at the ceiling.

I couldn't contain my boredom any longer as I was wanting to get out of bed. Still, carting the quadruplets in my body was about to be difficult for me as I slowly got up from my bed and went straight to the bathroom. As usual, I was relieving myself as I was standing over the toilet with the seat up. By the time I finished up my business, I flushed the toilet as I put the seat down and washed my hands over the sink. When I got out of the bathroom, I heard the door open as I used my hair by turning it into a set of blades until I turned around and saw Nibori coming into the room. That form of embarrassment scared me as I nearly fell over while my hair reverted back to normal, for I was caught and brought back into my bed before I fell onto the floor.

"Easy there, preggo," I heard Nibori say to me as she put the blanket over me.

"You startled me there," I said as I was clutching at my stomach.

"Sorry about that, but Dirk ended up taking out a drowner nest in an old Draaza derelict. As for the other animals who live there on Gwylthid Island, they're glad that the threat is gone in which the head honcho of that place is ready to welcome those tigers and the phoenix and her hatchlings back home."

"That's good to hear, but Dirk can't have any more missions until he turns eighteen."

"I looked through that wreckage in which the ship, known as the McKimson, was a laboratory that housed most of Valinor's animals when it crashed here." Nibori fishes out the journal she found as she gives it to me. "It's a log that focused on the preservation of some of the animal specimens stemming from bears to big cats and most of them over the centuries ended up being in captivity due to the high demand of them being in circuses offworld. From what I looked up, Valinor has a strict ban on animals being used for circuses in which Emperor Rajiv signed it so that most of them will live out their lives freely instead of being forced to jump through fiery hoops."

"I was never a fan of circuses in which I read horror stories about how most animals have been treated offworld to being in the ring doing parlor tricks. I also wasn't a fan of them due to the fact that most of them feature clowns in them."

"Try not to stress yourself too much. Besides, you've got a bun in the oven right now."

"You must've saw it in that talisman of yours."

"No…, I heard Dean talking about it when he found you under the advanced sewer system under the Tsubaki District. As for the chumps who forced you to carry foreign ovum that were fertilized by your seed, they're getting stiff prison sentences in which medical rape is a very serious crime."

I felt at my stomach as I was also starting to remember what happened to me on Halloween night. The fact that I was drugged and taken under the advanced sewer system and led into a rotgut room to be strapped down, blindfolded, and having my seed milked from me unnerved me to no end as I also felt where I was injected afterwards. Therefore, with Neville and his accomplice behind bars, justice was given to me, but the mental scars of that night would never leave me, for I also had to bear the foreign ovum that were fertilized by my seed. Still, I felt guilty for nearly betraying them as I also had to make sure that they would be safe from harm.

"You're starting to get attached to what you're carrying," said Nibori.

"The foreign ovum I'm carrying have a story in which their mothers gave their lives to protect the Skalvarg Archipelago from the further ravages of Bertram Blackthorne and his forces in the war between the Oranges and the Blues. Their sacrifice created a divine wind that blew away their enemies in which the people who live here honor their memory."

"I've heard of them from Dowager Empress Lyra in which one of her children is married to one of the mother's brother. They're at Dulcetta's inn before leaving for the mainlands. As for the Dowager pleased to meddle in her youngest son's affairs, she won't stop gushing about how she sabotaged his condom so he can get Dulcetta pregnant and he succeeded in doing so, but is still embarrassed about it."

"From what I heard, J.P. isn't ready to commit to fatherhood, but after having a dose of Lyra's meddling, he's gotten used to it."

I heard the sound of Madison squawking as I slowly got up and went towards the window. That was when she was being escorted by Florian's retainers along with her hatchlings onto a ferry to Gwylthid Island in which the drowner threat was averted over there. I also noticed Jor-El and his family being escorted into the ferry as they were ready to go home, for it was a time to return them to the island sanctuary that was there.

"Emperor Florian sent his forces to escort our animal refugees back home," said Nibori.

"That's good to hear," I said. "It's a shame that I didn't get to meet them because I'm always bedridden all the time."

"You'll see them, but from what Dean said earlier, you can't get out of bed after getting put through the ringer. Word also has it that you're not the only man with the bun in the oven in our ranks."

"Minara is also with child and put the ringer the same way as I was, but with an ovum that was a thousand years old whose mother took down a tyrannical Claudian Emperor at the time."

"Are you talking about Emperor Caedrios?" I nodded sincerely. "From what I knew during my years growing up and in the White Rosalia Salvaging Company, Emperor Caedrios ruled Claudius with an iron fist and an iron erection. Even though he ruled for four years, his cruelty knew no limits when it stemmed from broadcasting torture to hosting orgies just to please Mr. Happy between his legs. All of that changed when the planet's Chieftains have had enough in which a group of archers, known as the Rainfeather Brigade, decided to oust Emperor Caedrios by force. Their failed attempt to kill him in the Claudian capital of Skara Brae was a way and mean to give them chase to his last stand in the Messalina Plateau, where he met his end with a rain of arrows. After his downfall, a new Emperor took the reins, but the ones who truly ruled Claudius happen to be the—"

"—Brotherhood of Lions? I've heard of them in which two of them tried to abduct a farmer and his Elven husband to go back to Claudius, but to no avail. That was when they suffered humiliation for their folly in which they had no choice but to become farmhands at the mercy of the farmer. It's also said that Claudians who are born on Claudius are connected to the planet in which if one leaves it, then—"

"—Chaos ensues? The Brotherhood of Lions are no slouch, but they aren't lying about the omens that occur on their homeworld on a daily basis. As for the blessings that are now going back to their island sanctuary, the mess is over in which you should also thank Dirk for taking out that drowner nest in the first place."

I saw Dirk outside as he was brandishing his new weapon in which I was more happy that he stepped in and destroyed the drowner nest in the wreckage of the McKimson earlier. At first, I wanted to scold him for disobeying Dean's orders, but at the same time, I was proud of him going one step further to manhood as I was thankful that he averted the drowner threat, for he would be revered by the ones who ruled Gwylthid Island for his efforts in saving the day…

To be continued...