Chapter 1: Mira's Challenge

Too soon. It was much too soon. Team Lightyear had been in operation for just over a year, and there was so much ahead of them. But no, this stupid rule of the first born had dedicated marriage for Princess Mira Nova. And there was no way into the palace to help her...

"They just had to be selfish and only think about themselves!" scoffed XR.

Buzz facepalmed. "I swear, if we're not let in soon, we'll have to break the walls down!"

"Do you think that Mira's to-be husband will treat her well?" asked Booster anxiously. "What if he's as stuffy as most of the other Tangeans?"

"Oh, he's as bad as the others alright!" huffed a familiar voice.

"Mira!" Booster rushed over and nearly crushed her in a hug. "Oh, Mira... are you okay?! I'm so sorry you were forced into this!"

"Er... Booster…" Mira's voice strained. "Can't... breathe…"

"Oh... sorry," Booster sheepishly released tension. "We were worried sick!"

"Booster," scoffed XR, "it was just a wedding–"

"Then how do you explain this?" Mira held up her left hand with a smirk. No such jewellery was on her finger.

"Way to go, Mira!" grinned Buzz, giving her a thumbs up. "How did you get your father to back down?"

The Tangean flipped through a manual. "Right here, Buzz. The challenge of worth! The first-born may pick any challenge that the proposer must complete. If they don't try or they fail, the wedding is off."

Amused, Buzz petted Mira's shoulder and grinned. "Sticking by the rules but twisting them around to suit you. Usually, I wouldn't approve, but–"

"It's not like you haven't done it yourself," Mira joked.

"I follow the rules all the time–"

"Then what about going into enemy lines without backup until the last minute?"

Buzz blushed sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. "O-kay… so you got me there."

"So, Mira, if your to-be husband fails," said Booster, "we can still be a team after all?!"

"That is correct, Booster," smiled Mira. "And I picked Basic Ranger Training."

"Now that's ranger thinking, Mira," Buzz gave her a hi-five. "There's no way he'll pass that!"

"I know," she smirked. "Now let's go and watch him at the academy." Winking, she added. "Oh, and stop off to pick up some popcorn on the way... er... if that's okay by you, Buzz."

"Request granted, ranger," he nodded.

"Hey, don't forget the oil!" cried XR. "I am not falling asleep through this training session!"

The rest of the team chuckled and nodded at their robot companion before rushing back to 42.

Down at the training course, Fop was just about to begin. Team Lightyear sat in the stands – right near the back – watching with interest.

"This shouldn't be too difficult," Fop said to himself. "Why, if Mira could do it, so could I." On the signal, Fop started to rush toward the hurdles with the other Cadets. However, he mistimed his jump and crashed through the hurdles. "Oh, dear me! Ouch! I say, could I please get some assistance for my leg…"

"Get back out there, Cadet!" huffed the trainer. "If you pull out of a mission like that and Zurg's on your tail, you'll be blasted to bits!"

"Er… y-yes sir," Fop gulped. "Right… c-carrying on…" he started to race on, but his leg was bruised. Fop tried to bite back his pain. "I… I can do this… not a problem, wot…"

Up in the stands, Team Lightyear chuckled lightly amongst themselves. Perhaps it was a good thing the stands were mostly empty that day…

The rest of the day was uneventful… well, other than a quick mission with capturing Torque, but Team Lightyear were satisfied with the outcome. Now, the group were settled in the rec room, watching a movie: The Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire. They were up to the part where the song "Beyond The Mysterious Beyond" was sung by the Rainbow Faces and the main cast.

"Heh, no doubt they're talking about outer space," Booster chuckled. "Those Rainbow Faces could very well be aliens, like Mira and I."

"That checks," said Mira. "Maybe… maybe they wanted to see what it was like in a culture different from their own." She looked down at the floor. "I know how that feels."

"Is… that why you chose this movie, Mira?" asked Buzz softly.

Mira nodded. "Yeah… Whenever I feel locked out by my father… this song reminds me of when I took the leap into Star Command."

"And you made the right call, Mira," grinned XR. "At the way Fop is going, you'll be with us until we all choose to retire."

Mira giggled. "That's the general idea." She took a sip from her soda and looked with fond eyes at her friends. This was how it should be. Never hanging up her spacesuit. Never being stuck as a cosy little 'princess'. Never, ever going back to Tangea…

Wait, never going back? That would be a bit of a stretch. Sure, her father and her had a strained relationship, but she still loved him. And she did have a few friends on Tangea. Not nearly enough to go back permanently, but she still cared about her homeland…

"Mira?" asked Booster. "Are you okay?"

The Tangean gave a weak smile. "Yeah… it is a tough balancing act," she admitted, before giving a more confident grin, "But I know I've made the right choice with putting Fop through that challenge of worth. I'm not giving up my role as a Ranger so easily."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Co-Pilot," Buzz chuckled. Smiling, the four teammates clinked their drinks together as they continued watching their movie…

Credit goes to a friend of mine for a bit of help on the story on DA.

This story is my first time writing a Buzz Light of Star Command fanfiction, and it takes place during an episode's timegap. Honestly, I just wanted any excuse to write a wholesome story focused on Team Lightyear's friendship. And Mira has been going through a TIME with her betrothal in this episode. Good thing she has three brothers to help her out.