Chapter 2 - The Reunion
Aja opened her eyes. It was no longer the middle of the night, but early in the next morning, sun not even out yet.. She was in her bed, in the mothership. Next to her was Steve, on his phone. He looked over to see Aja, who was now awake.
"Aja!" said Steve, happy that she is ok.
Steve hugged Aja tightly. Aja giggled. She was happy to see Steve.
He helped Aja to the living room where everyone was gathered. Lucy and Ricky were making breakfast. Argh, Zadra, Krel, Stuart, Toby, Eli, Luug, Darcy, and Mary were watching TV.
Krel looked over at Steve and saw Aja with him. Krel gasped. "Aja, you're awake" getting up and going to hug her. Everyone else saw her and went to hug her.
"Varvatos is happy to see that you are ok," said Varvatos.
But Mary was still concerned "What happened, Aja. What were you doing near the river and what was that blue light?" she asked.
Aja scratched her head, but started hesitantly speaking while softly laughing. "Uh, it was Gaylen's core." She smiled nervously.
Everyone was speechless, except for Mary and Darcy, who really didn't know what Gaylen's core was.
"What! We destroyed it with that buttsnack, Morando."
"Apparently not," Aja says.
"Well, where is it?" Toby asked.
Aja hesitated. "Um, it's gone."
"What do you mean gone?" Toby said.
"Gone, as if it shot up into the air and integrated with me in less than a sekton." Aja said.
Everyone's eyes widened. They all barely survived the battle with Morando, even without his god form. When he became one, they all almost died. Now, Aja had this raw power inside her, but it appeared that nothing had changed about her. She still decided that she has to go back to Akiridion-5. She wanted to tell them about meeting Gaylen, but didn't want anyone to worry about it.
Aja cleared her throat. "Look, this changes nothing. I am still going back to my world. I am a queen now, Gaylen's core or not."
Everyone understood, but were still worried about how Aja would handle this power. They were gonna have a party last night, but this happened, so they are staying one more day. We go back to Camelot, which was now floating over Arcadia. The sun was barely out yet, so now was the chance to get Jim and Blinky to come with them to the surface. Jim, Claire, Blinky, and Merlin got onto the magic flying ship and flew down to the surface, down to Jim's house. He still had his house keys. He was so happy to see his mother again. He unlocked the door.
"Mom! Mom! It's me, Jim." Jim yelled happily, but got no response.
He looked around the house and saw that she and Strickler were not home. The babies were also gone too, probably all adopted.
"Doesn't look like she and Strickler are home." Claire said.
Merlin annoyingly signed. "Well if you're done here, we need to go. Find out what to do next." Jim felt a little annoyed by Merlin's attitude, but understood that they still had responsibilities. They still need to do something for the trolls.
It is still early in the morning, so no one is out. They are walking through the town center, but are dumbfounded about the level of destruction in their town. It wasn't even as bad during the Eternal Night.
Claire was looking at a car that was launched into the museum. "What happened here while we were gone?"
"Well Mistress Claire, it appears there was another battle here in Arcadia." Blinky stated.
"Wait, Toby called me a few days ago about something associated with Kanjigar." Jim says. "Blinky. Claire. Do you guys remember Aja and Krel?" They both nodded.
"Well Master Jim, what about them?" Blinky asked.
Jim thought for a second. "I think we should go see them now?"
"Good idea. I remember where they live." Claire said.
But just then, a black cat landed onto a car in front of them, startling them a little.
"Ooh, hey little guy. Are you lost?" Claire asked, with the cat turning towards her and then pointing its hand.
"Beware! You, you, you, and you are in grave danger!" the cat said.
Claire stepped back. "A talking cat?"
Merlin then stepped in. "Archie, long time no see. Where are they?"
"Archie?" Jim asked.
The cat got off the car, standing on its hind legs like a human, and put on glasses.
"Greetings. Yes, the name is Archie. I am a wizard familiar."
Jim was confused. "Familiar? But I don't remember you."
Blinky chimed in. "No Master Jim, as a wizard associate."
Merlin spotted Douxie. "Ah, Hisirdoux. Glad to see that you are finally here. And Lady Zoey"
Claire and Jim both said "Douxie? You're a wizard?"
Merlin introduced them to Claire, Jim, and Blinky. Douxie was his apprentice and Zoe was his mate.
Back in the mothership, the group is having their party. Tacos, dj music, and all around fun. Krel, Eli, Steve, Darcy, Mary, Argh, Zadra, Varvatos, and Luug were dancing. Aja was having a drink of fruit punch. She liked human food. Darcy and Mary came over to Aja.
"You know Aja, we're coming with you guys." Darcy said.
Aja, eyes-widen, turned towards Darcy. "What?" She was happy that her friends were coming with them.
Mary jumped in. "Yeah, we talked with our parents and they are ok with it. You saved us back at the theater. They trust you."
Aja chuckled and hugged her friends. "That's great. I can't wait to show you my world."
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it." Aja said as she walked to the door. She opened the door so that Jim, Claire, Blinky, and Merlin were at the door. There was also the boy that tried to help her find Luug when he ate the wormhole and the girl that confronted Krel when he accidentally stole the music disc. There was also a strange cat with glasses. Aja was surprised to say the least. Merlin, Douxie, Zoe, and Archie were also surprised. They had never seen an Akiridion or alien before. Claire was surprised too because she had never seen Aja's true form.
"Jim? Claire?" Aja asked.
"Hi, Aja. How are you? Also, do you mind if we come in?" Jim asked.
"Sure, you can. We're having a party. Everyone is here." Aja said.
They all came inside, and everyone was surprised to see each other. Krel turned off the music.
"Jimbo! Claire! Blinky! It's so good to see you again." Toby said as he jumped up and ran to hug them.
Claire then saw Darcy and Mary in the corner. "Girls!" She ran over to hug them. "Where have you been, Claire-bear?" Mary asked. "Troll stuff." Claire responded.
"Hey Eli." Claire said.
"Hey, Steve's here too. No love for me?" Steve said.
Claire was less enthusiastic about seeing Steve. "Oh, hi Steve."
Blinky and Argh were happy to be together again. Blinky then saw Varvatos, Zadra, Stuart, Luug.
"Greetings. I am Blinky."
Luug then ran and jumped onto Blinky, knocking him down, screaming in disgust and fear while Luug was licking his face. Krel then got Luug off him. "Sorry about that." Krel said.
Blinky got up and cleaned himself. "Oi, the name's Stuart from Durio."
"Ah, where is that?" Blinky asked. "Ah, another world. Been here on Earth for 30 years. Practically half human now."
Aja then approached Merlin. "Who are you?" Merlin then looked at the girl interested. "Merlin Ambrosius of Avalon. And who are you my dear."
"I am Queen Aja Tarron of Akiridion-5." Merlin's mind suddenly clicked. The Akiridions have had a presence on Earth for longer than he has existed and this girl is claiming to be the queen.
Suddenly, Aja felt a burning feeling rising throughout her. The power was coming back alive. "Uh, can you give me a minute." Aja asked as she excused herself, leaving Merlin confused. Aja went inside the true mothership, leaving many of the new guests confused and amazed. As Aja got to the control room, she felt the power going to one of her hands. It started to glow blue with blue energy emitting from it. She heard footsteps on the ground coming from around the corner.
"Aja?" It was Claire. "Oh, hello Claire." Aja said as she put her glowing hand behind her back.
"You look amazing. I never saw you like this before. You're really beautiful." Claire complemented. "I bet 4 arms really come in handy."
"Thank you. You look amazing too" Aja said.
Suddenly, Aja's other hands began to glow. Claire noticed it. "Uh Aja, are you alright..." but was cut off. "Um, that's nothing." Aja said as she put her other hands behind her back, nervously smiling. Just then, the light started to glow more bright until another energy explosion came out of Aja, knocking her and Claire down. Once the energy touched Claire, she recognized that it was the same as before. The blast sent shockwaves into the camouflaged topside of the mothership, knocking everyone off their feet. Once the energy left the house, it disappeared. Every wizard in the house felt their senses overloaded and went immobile. After a few seconds, everyone got up onto their knees.
"Where was that from?" Jim asked. "Wait, where is Claire and Aja?"
Back in the control room, Claire got up. "Aja! What was that?"
But, she noticed that Aja was still on the ground. Her whole body was glowing. Claire could feel something powerful inside Aja. It was the same power she felt in Camelot.
"Claire! Aja?" Claire heard as Jim and the rest were coming down. "Jim, we're in here."
Everyone got in and all gasped. Blinky's eyes were wide open in shock. "Um, is she alright?"
Aja then stopped glowing and got up. Merlin then put his staff next to Aja's chest to see what was wrong with her. As soon as the staff touched her, he was sent flying back into Argh's arms. "Oh thank you, you hulking brute." Merlin got back up to his feet.
"Ok, what was that all about?" asked Toby.
"It appears that you have something powerful inside you." Merlin stated.
Krel approached Aja, all 4 arms crossed. "Uh Aja, don't you have something to tell them now?"
Aja stood firm and told the truth, but not with every detail. Scratching her head and giving a nervous smile. "I may or may not have integrated with a celestial's life-core."
Half the group already knew this, but the other half didn't even know anything about Gaylen.
"Please elaborate." Blinky said.
Aja went to the control panels and pulled up what she needed to show. She still missed Mother.
She gave a hard light floor to the entire room, up to the platform level for everyone to stand around. She pulled up the story of Gaylen, Seklos, and Akiridions into a hologram. Gaylen was an immense being with red wings.
"Long ago, a celestial named the Great Gaylen created Akiridion-5 from the remains of a star he crushed with his hands. He ruled as a being of immense power. But his power grew too great, corrupting him into a cruel god. An Akiridion royal named Seklos had to sacrifice herself to stop Gaylen…"
They watched as Gaylen grew to a size on will to where he was able to crush a star with his hands. He used the remains to form Akiridion-5, an unnatural, artificial world made of pure energy and gas, but still had a breathable atmosphere for organic creatures.
As the others listened to Aja saying this lesson and witnessed the hologram, they couldn't help but wonder what else exists out there that has this kind of power. Merlin was a powerful wizard, but even he could not match the power feats said here.
"...She pulled out her own life core into a cannon of immense power. In the end, she pierced his core, ending him and herself. His core was all that was rumored to remain."
Aja ended the story. "For a long time, we thought Gaylen's core was just a story, but it was real." She turned to Blinky and Argh. "We found out in our parent's memories that they had Gaylen's core and brought it to Earth for safekeeping, hundreds of years before Arcadia was even built. They gave it to a troll named Kanjigar. We found it in your Trollmarket."
Blinky had no idea that any of this happened and how that a relic of immeasurable power was among them all this time.
Aja then remembered it was time to go home now. "Look, it's been good seeing you all, but it's time for us to return to our world."
Merlin then asked her a question. "And what will you be doing with this power? It is clearly dangerous for a little girl."
Varvatos then scowled at Merlin. "She is a queen. Watch your tongue." Merlin hasn't had anyone talk to him like that in a long time, bruising his big ego a little.
"I intend to return to my planet and rule. There is a lot that needs to change and this newfound power changes none of that." Aja said sternly. The room felt tense at the moment.
Aja saw Claire gesturing to have a talk in private, girl to girl. "Uh, excuse me for a minute. Krel, power up the wormhole. We're going home."
Everyone dismissed themselves from the room, leaving Claire and Aja alone. "You know, I never knew you were this awesome. You're the queen of an alien planet." Claire said. "Akiridion!" Aja corrected.
"Sorry," Claire said. "I heard you, your brother, Toby and the others had a battle here and we were gone in New Jersey."
Aja's face turned to sadness. "Yes, the general named Morando took my parents' throne and killed them right in front of me and Krel. I also almost got killed a few times along with Krel and my friends. Then I failed to stop Morando from integrating with the core in which he would have destroyed the Earth and galaxy. The only way to stop him was to sacrifice my parent's cores to kill him." Claire has had her losses, but she has never had to see her parents die. Twice! "I'm so sorry." Claire said.
Aja turned towards Claire. "The only thing I can do now is move on into the future and not let their sacrifices be in vain. They had their mistakes during their reign. I don't want to repeat those mistakes. And this power. All I can do is try to control it and not let it control me."
Claire has seen the effects of uncontrollable power on people and was uncertain on how Aja would handle it.
"Maybe you should stay here and try to learn how to control it in our ways." Claire suggested.
"That sounds lively, but I can't. I have responsibilities now. Ruling the most advanced planet in the known universe can take up a lot of time you know." She said jokingly. "Plus, I don't really like that magical man from first impressions." Claire saw where she was coming from, based on Merlin's manipulations in the past with Jim. "I understand." Claire said.
Aja then gave a device to Claire. "What is this?" Claire asked.
"That is a long range communicator. If you ever need help, you know who to call." Aja said. Claire was excited to say the least, having alien tech of her own now.
She then hugged Aja, knowing she needed some comfort after all that had happened. Aja smiled and hugged back.
Back on the surface, everyone was gathered waiting for the queen. Aja and Claire finally appeared out of the house. Aja turned towards Steve and the rest stayed on Earth. "The mothership might never fly again, but you can come here anytime. Ricky and Lucy will be living here now." The robot couple smiled. "Also, the computer still works, so if any of you need information about the universe out there, it is there."
Just then, a blue quantum wormhole opened in the street right in front of them. Everyone said their farewells for now. Varvatos, Krel, Zadra, Eli, Darcy, and Mary went through. Aja was the last. She held Luug in her hands as she turned around to see her friends. Luug licked her face. "Come on. Let's go home." Aja walked through the wormhole as it disappeared.