Firelight

by OCQueen96

After losing her family, her planet, and her entire race of people in a war against Tamaran, Damiana is forced to survive alone on Planet Earth. After losing everything, she doesn't need anyone and she trusts nobody. However, when a dangerous criminal threatens the entire hero world, Damiana gets involved with the Titans East. Will her views hold true as she fights alongside them?

48. Part IV: Unraveled: Chapter Forty-Eight

A/N: Another chapter for my faithful readers! This one was an interesting one to write. A lot of big reveals in this chapter (or at least I think they're big... Who knows? I'm sure some of you probably caught on haha.) and the reveals were entertaining for me to write. I go so long without updating that I hope the payoff feels well worth it for all of you. Thank you for returning for chapter forty-eight and for joining Roy and Damiana for more adventures on Dabnod!

Anyhow, enjoy the story! :)

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Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. Never have, never will.

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Note: NSFW

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Part IV: Unraveled: Chapter Forty-Eight

"Doesn't that cook look exactly like your sister?!"

"It's like Damiana of the Fire Phoenix Clan has a clone!"

Adriel watches the Damiana lookalike vanish into the kitchen. It is uncanny how similar she looks to Saeran's younger sister. Button nose, rosebud lips, long, curled hair that turns rose red when she isn't feeling any emotion in particular. Not to mention, the cook clearly recognized Knight Master Urrvink, Saeran, and himself. Her hair shifted colors when they made eye contact. It is impossible for that cook to be Saeran's baby sister. That cook was clearly a teenager, and Damiana of the Fire Phoenix Clan is only eleven. Not to mention, little Damiana is probably at home reading her books and practicing new techniques with her fire. Yet, there is a nagging feeling inside Adriel's hearts. Is it somehow possible for that to be Damiana?

Meanwhile, Saeran unleashes a long, frustrated, sigh at the crowd of Squires. "For the last time, that cook isn't my sister! That cook is our age! Unless Damiana is my twin sister and not my baby sister, they can't possibly be the same person!"

"Then why did she get so freaked out when she saw us? That must be Damiana!"

"If not Damiana, then someone from your Clan that looks like her. Did you see the Fire Phoenix armband?"

"Plus, she's working in the kitchen. Only fire users work in kitchens at restaurants!"

Saeran doesn't reward them with a response. He moves his plate of fried gzrif aside and rests his head on the table, their squadron mates continuing to gab on.

"If someone from your Clan defected to one of the other provinces and we don't inform the Royal Council, could we be reprimanded?"

"Probably! What if we get thrown into the dungeon or burned at the stake?!"

"That won't happen. Trust me. We're in Province Four. Everyone looks the other way in Province Four."

"True point… I mean, we did just see Knight Master Yzit of Squadron Fourteen drink five mugs of ale and leave with two of those ugly women at the tavern… If that isn't enough to get him reprimanded by the Royal Council, then we should be fine keeping a defected Lady from the Fire Phoenix Clan a secret."

At some point the squadron stands and exits the restaurant. The conversation has shifted from Damiana's clone to Knight Master Yzit. With Knight Master Yzit spending the night with the ladies, they're all wondering who is preparing Squadron Fourteen for tomorrow's training exercises? Knight Master Urrvink's squadron is Squadron Thirteen and they are sharing an inn with Squadron Fourteen. Eight of the Squires are bombarding Urrvink with questions, asking if they can exchange a night of training tips with the Squires of Squadron Fourteen. This leaves Saeran and Adriel loitering inside the restaurant. Saeran stares at the double doors leading to the kitchen, golden ponytail turning a curious shade of pale gray.

"We can talk to her if you want. Do you want to hang out here until she gets off work? Even if she's not your sister, she's wearing the Fire Phoenix Clan symbol."

"Don't be ridiculous. It's obvious that she isn't my sister! She just looks like her. And who cares if we're from the same clan? What my clanmate decides to do with her life is her business and none of mine." With that said, the stubborn water user saunters toward the exit. "Are you coming? Tomorrow is projectile dodging day. If we don't get enough sleep, we could get ourselves and our phoenixes killed!"

The Ground Badger touches an index finger to his chin in thought. He is aware that he should leave. Yet, curiosity is overwhelming. If there is a girl from Saeran's clan working as a cook in Province Four, then his friend should at least have the privilege of knowing who she is and why she's here instead of in the Capital City. Adriel's single concern is being a good friend! Or at least this is what he tells himself.

"You aren't coming, are you?" The water user glowers fretfully.

"No. I'll catch up with you later."

"Just don't do anything stupid, okay?" Saeran rests a firm hand on his friend's shoulder. "I understand that you have a…strange connection…with my sister. Her Highness Queen Guayusa has my undying support, but she may have gone too far by betrothing you to Damiana. Just…don't let that cook get inside your brain because she looks like your betrothed. Remember, Damiana is not yet sixteen. She's only eleven. It's impossible for that cook to be Damiana no matter how much they look alike."

Adriel groans and swats Saeran's hand away. "This has nothing to do with the betrothal. I just want to see who that lady is. That's all." Laughing sardonically, he adds, "Personally, I'm glad that Damiana isn't sixteen yet. I don't want to get married anyway."

---

The lilac moon is on it's third quarter tonight. Another week and it will be full. It was full on the night of Dabnod's destruction, Damiana suddenly remembers. At the end of this week, her beautiful planet's moon will only have one full cycle left. The would-be Queen gazes up at the golden night sky streaked by wispy silver clouds. The stars aren't visible due to the City of Sclarthon's light pollution, but nevertheless, Dabnod's night sky is still beautiful. At any rate, the lilac moon is a lovely distraction from the sound of rambunctious laughing coming from the tavern. Damiana doesn't have the stomach to step inside. She leans against the outside wall waiting for Roy to emerge.

As if waiting for his cue, Roy stumbles out the front door and into the street. His face is flushed with rage. "For the last time, leave me alone!"

A haggard, female, voice follows. "You can't even spare six gems?"

"No! I am MARRIED!"

Damiana cannot help smirking. After the rather eventful day she has had between running into her brother's squadron and learning to control the temperature of her fire, hearing Roy say no to the tavern prostitutes is exactly what she needs. It seems the archer was fully unaware of her presence. He turns around, intending to go toward the restaurant. The instant he sees her leaning against the wall, he jolts.

"Hi, there."

Roy rubs the back of his neck. "Oh! Uh…hi D-Damiana! Just so you know…I only want to avoid sleeping with ugly women who smell like B.O. Being married is temporary. I'm sorry you had to hear that."

Damiana giggles. "Don't worry about it." The girl knows that the gesture screams 'mixed signals', but she grabs Roy's hand anyway. "Come on. Let's go back to the inn. Tenna and Caen are probably worried."

The two Titans weave through alleyways and saunter down streets. It is only when they are in an isolated alleyway without another person in sight that she tugs a small, drawstring, pouch out from her dress' pocket. Damiana hasn't shared the thought, but the dress that Roy purchased is comfortable and fits just right. She should remember to thank him later. Meanwhile, Damiana dumps the pouch's scant contents into her palm. There are four tiny gemstones gleaming amber.

"This is what Fushina paid me. Hopefully you're faring better than I am."

Roy reveals his own drawstring pouch. Damiana peeks inside. There are eight gemstones, all of them slightly larger than her own, and they are crimson in color. The girl isn't sure whether to feel jealous or elated. "Wow! Fulshako is generous! We're already up to thirty-nine gems! We might not need to work the full week! This is great!"

"Not so fast. We have the inn that we're paying for. Remember?"

Oh. That's right. Their room is four gems per night. Normally it would be two, but theirs is particularly lavish. It looks like all of Damiana's portion is going toward lodging. Noticing her crestfallen demeanor, the redhead smirks.

"Don't worry. Even if all we have is my paycheck, it will still be enough to pay for the vengat by the end of the week. You covering our room is plenty."

They exchange smiles. Though the Noble Lady is still disappointed, the encouragement is enough to lift her spirits even if it's only slightly. With that said, Damiana guides them through the maze of alleyways. Fatigue from a hard day's work seeps into her bones. More than anything, she wants to go to sleep. Once they're a block away from the inn, Damiana can practically feel the bedsheets against her skin. That, however, is when Roy speaks. He coughs, clearly not wanting to say anything. Of course, his conscious wins and he confesses.

"Hey, just so you know, I saw Saeran and Adriel at the tavern earlier. They're here in Province Four, so we'd better be careful – especially you."

Damiana grimaces, releases his hand, and leans against the alley's wall. "I saw them, too, and they saw me, so it's already too late. Saeran, Adriel, Knight Master Urrvink, and every Squire in his squadron recognized me. Plus, I'm still wearing my Fire Phoenix armband…"

Roy smacks a palm to his forehead and sighs. "We're married, Dami! Would it kill you to take off your Fire Phoenix armband at least until we get the zirgnant tool? What use is being married if you can't use my clan symbol to hide who you are?!"

"I'm sorry, okay?! I'm Damiana of the Fire Phoenix Clan! It's who I am! I can't just take off my armband. It feels like losing part of my identity."

"Either you lose your identity, or we lose the vengat, the zirgnant tool, and possibly our lives. I didn't care too much when we were traveling through the outer provinces, but now wearing your Fire Phoenix armband is starting to get dangerous." The archer drags a frustrated hand across his face. "Did you even think wearing your armband through? Numerous Knight squadrons saw you today, including your brother and Adriel! Since they saw you, I'm surprised they didn't ambush you the instant you stepped foot out of that restaurant!"

"Will you relax?! Everything is fine. It's five years ago, remember? My current self is eleven years old. Even if I look like Damiana, they will never think I'm the same person in a million years."

Roy groans. "Don't get cocky. I'd stake my life on it that they saw your clan symbol and are wondering who you are."

"Stop worrying, okay? Let's go back to the inn and get some sleep. If there is anything to worry about, I would rather worry after breakfast and a good night's rest."

The archer grabs her by the hand and drags her toward their temporary home. "Fine. Let's go."

---

Saeran's frustrated scowl and the remark "Just don't do anything stupid, okay?" flashes through Adriel's mind. Yet, it is impossible for the Ground Badger to listen. He'd followed the Lady of the Fire Phoenix Clan at a distance, expecting to witness nothing of significance. Less than fifteen minutes was what it took for Adriel to learn that his night would be more complicated than anticipated - far more complicated.

"Oh! Uh…hi D-Damiana!"

The boy she'd met outside the tavern had called her Damiana! It would be possible for the Noblewoman to be an older lookalike of the Queen's apprentice. It would be even more possible for the lookalike to hail from the same clan. What isn't possible is for that person to have the exact same name! The longer Adriel watches her, the more similar this older 'Damiana' becomes to little Dami. She twirls her hair around her index finger when nervous. She nibbles her lower lip when thinking. When the girl seems frustrated, he notices how she juts out her lower lip. They also have the same strong, confident, stride when walking. Adriel isn't at all certain how it's possible, but this Damiana and Saeran's Damiana are the same person! They must be!

What the Ground Badger does next is too far. Adriel knows it, and the Fates certainly know it! When he sees the Lady of the Fire Phoenix Clan enter an inn, along with that boy she'd met outside the tavern, Adriel doesn't leave. He doesn't turn around and make the long journey to his own inn on the other side of Sclarthon. Instead he goes inside and drops a small sack of gems on the front desk. The elderly doorman looks up from the book he is reading with a puckering frown.

"Can I help you?"

For a split-second Adriel hesitates. This feels wrong on so many levels… Gulping, he spats out the inquiry before he can take it back. "What room is Lady Fire Phoenix staying in, good sir?"

---

Roy is angry at her. The archer's ire can be felt from a mile away. All the girl wants is to go to sleep, but this feels like it will be impossible. Tension is so thick that it can be cut with a knife. Damiana excused herself moments ago so that she could change into her nightgown. Now she stands in front of the mirror brushing her hair into long, curled, ringlets. Pouting, Damiana tugs the brush through her tangled tresses while studying Roy's reflection. He sits on the edge of the bed removing his boots. When their gazes meet, she averts her eyes back to her reflection.

"I will leave my Fire Phoenix Clan armband here tomorrow."

"A lot of good that will do us now. Your brother's squadron already saw you."

"What does that matter? Saeran's squadron thinks that 'Damiana' is at home with Mama."

Roy shakes his head "Who knows? Because of your armband, Saeran and Adriel might go back to the restaurant tomorrow to look for you. We can't afford that! Fulshako is probably one of the only people in Sclarthon with vengat, and we need to make sure we get it! Running from your brother and his crazy friend isn't an option."

The girl rolls her eyes. "They won't come looking. Adriel and Saeran have enough common sense to know that I'm not the same person as the eleven-year-old in the Capital City."

Heavy silence floods the room. Damiana rarely recalls seeing Roy angry with her. She doesn't like it when the archer is angry with her. The girl is prepared to apologize and suggest that they come up with a strategy for tomorrow. If Saeran and Adriel do return, how does he suggest that she avoid their watchful eyes? That, however, is when a knock is heard at the door. Damiana isn't sure whether to feel relief or disappointment at the interruption. Roy stands from the bedside.

"It's probably Caen. The little tike has probably been waiting all day to ask us this English question." Hand hovering over the knob, Roy adds, "We'll talk about the mess we're in with Saeran's squadron later. I don't want to make Caen and Tenna worried."

Damiana nods her agreement, remembering that they've been gone all day long. The mother and the eight-year-old are likely worried. It's no use causing them further concern. Damiana pastes on a smile, preparing to be as cheerful and optimistic as possible in their presence. Upon seeing who loiters in the entrance, however, the false smile morphs into an agape jaw of horror. Roy backs away from the door by several steps, one hand untethering his bow and the other gripping tightly to an arrow. The would-be Queen leaps to her feet, summoning a fire blade in each hand.

"What do you want with me?!"

Raising both hands and backing against the hallway wall is none other than the tall frame and slender face of fifteen-year-old Adriel. A waist-length ponytail is bruise-colored purple while irises are plum. Remorse glistens in the young Ground Badger's terrified eyes and he appears ready to bolt down the corridor. A single arrow narrowly missing his head is enough to convince him to refrain from running.

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have followed you! Forgive me, Damiana!" Adriel's ponytail is suddenly as pink as his cheeks. "You are Damiana, aren't you? I know it sounds ridiculous, but I NEED to know."

The archer lowers his bow. Emerald eyes glare at his teammate through a curtain of ginger bangs.

Flames extinguish not by conscious effort, but due entirely to shock. Doing her best to play stupid, the girl scratches her head in confusion. "Damiana? Who is that? I don't know who you're talking about!" Trying to feign rage, she points up the hall with a dramatic flourish. "Be gone, strange boy! I've never seen you before in my life!"

Adriel cocks his head and stares. Hair turns such a bright shade of green that it shines against the wall behind him. "Wow. You really are Damiana, aren't you?"

"No! Of course, I'm not!"

"You have the same look on your face that you did at the restaurant. I can tell that you recognize me." Adriel saunters closer so that he is standing in the doorway, neither fully inside nor fully outside their room. "If you want to convince me that you aren't Saeran's sister, tell me that you aren't her one more time. If you convince me, then I promise to go away and never bother you again - no projectiles and no fire required."

Roy steps aside, his bow remaining firmly in his grasp. This puts Damiana fully in the young Ground Badger's line of vision. Gulping, she runs nervous fingers through her violet locks. "I already told you; I have no clue who you are! If you want to know where your friend's baby sister is, then go find him and ask him. Now get lost, or I'll escort you out with my fire!"

The waist-length ponytail turns from the color of an Earth summer valley to glimmering beryl. "I never said that my best friend's sister is younger than him. You added that part all on your own."

"Oh! Uh…"

"Plus, you're scrunching your nose and playing with your hair, so you're obviously lying. Remember when you stole that book from the Palace Archives a few weeks ago? When Her Highness caught you, you were scrunching your nose and pulling on your hair then, too. Queen Guayusa may have believed you when you said it wasn't stolen, but I didn't."

Damiana's curls instantly become more onyx than the night, as do her eyes. "I… I…" Adriel raises an expectant brow, causing her to sigh in defeat. "I needed it to learn how to separate my energies to properly channel my lightning."

Silence. Eternal silence. Damiana and Adriel do not break eye contact once in the space of twenty seconds. The person to end the silence is Roy. Damiana has never been more thankful for his presence.

"It looks like the jig is up. Get inside, Adriel."

The Ground Badger hesitates. He looks at Roy while appearing somewhat frightened. It occurs to them both too little too late that while he recognizes Damiana, he has not yet met Titan Speedy. Adriel won't officially meet Speedy for five more years. Remembering this, Roy rubs the back of his neck.

"Sorry. You haven't met me yet. Name's Roy."

Adriel flinches when the door shuts behind him. It doesn't take someone with a degree in psychology to discern that the Ground Badger is questioning, not only the decisions that have led him to this moment, but the very existence of reality. When the boy's features turn to soot, the Titans predict a panic attack mere seconds before it ensues. Only ten seconds after the door closes, the Ground Badger collapses against the nearest wall. When Adriel finally makes an inquiry, he does it while rocking back and forth and hugging himself tightly.

"Sweet Fates, I was right! How was I right?! How are you Damiana?!" He ogles her for an eon before adding, "How am I in the same room with an older version of my best friend's baby sister?!"

Damiana sits down on the floor across from him, as does Roy. They exchange glances. This situation feels as impossible to them as it does to Adriel – past Adriel, Damiana reminds herself.

"Look, you wouldn't believe us if I told you. Yes – I'm Damiana. As crazy as it seems, I am the same person that's in the Capital City with Mama and Queen Guayusa. I'm just sixteen instead of eleven."

More silence and more staring. At long last, fifteen-year-old Adriel stammers out a response. "I-I don't get this at all…"

Roy stands up and walks to the other side of the room, retrieving Damiana's bag. Before they try to explain, he untucks Black Shadow's rift machine. He doesn't mutter a word. He allows Damiana to answer at her own pace. Eventually she gulps and looks Adriel in the eye.

"We don't get it either…not fully. You see…we don't really belong here."

The redhead extends the machine in Damiana's direction. She accepts it gratefully. Adriel gawks at the device as if it were a bomb or something poisonous.

"You don't belong here? What's that supposed to mean? And what the heck is THAT?!"

"Again, you wouldn't believe me if I told you…" She winces. "But if I were to try telling you, I would say that it is a machine that opens rifts. It tears open a portal to any planet during any historical period. Roy and I are from five years into the future- "

"And we're from Earth," Roy adds sternly, as if knowing that Damiana would have skipped over that part. Honestly, the girl was planning on doing exactly that.

The Ground Badger holds a hand to his forehead. She can feel his head pulsing just by looking at him. "Earth?" He asks after a very long time. "Time travel makes sense to me, you know, in a strange Earth technology kind of way. Earth is filled with a bunch of weird things. What I don't understand is the 'Earth' part. You're Damiana - my Damiana. Why would you be living on Earth five years into the future instead of on Dabnod with me-err…Saeran?"

She doesn't answer. A full minute passes. Damiana waits for Roy to answer, but he doesn't. Eventually the redhead gives her a sorrowful, expectant, glance followed by a nod in the Ground Badger's direction. The would-be Queen sighs. Or it should be a sigh. It catches in her throat and sounds more like a sob.

"Dabnod is gone, Adriel."

---

Darkness is nothing new for Adriel. There has been so much darkness in his fifteen years of living.

He stood witness the day his older sister, Jaegana, was sent to Province Two by order of Her Majesty Queen Guayusa. When Jaegana came back from Province Two a year later, his sister was a different person. Bitter. Rageful. Sorrowful. Empty. Yet, she somehow seemed stronger. There was darkness in Jaegana then, and there still is to this very day.

However, the darkness didn't afflict him personally until one year ago - Adriel's fourteenth year. Fourteen was an eagerly anticipated year. It was the year Knight Master Urrvink's squadron would be assigned Knight-level missions. None of them had known that Knight-level missions would entail the destruction of three Province Five towns. Now whenever they go to any of the provinces beyond Province Three, it is not the missions that entice Adriel, but rather, the access to alcohol. A few mugs of ale help to blur the images that plague his mind.

Daily life in the Capital City isn't any brighter. Bans on books. Lists of approved topics of conversation hanging in the Palace courtyard. Bans on beverages containing caffeine. The most well-known caffeinated beverage was called hfid and was sold by the loveliest elderly lady. Her shop went out of business less than a month after the caffeine ban. Then alcohol was banned. Following that, all "less than exemplary discussions regarding Her Majesty Queen Guayusa and her most esteemed servants the Royal Council" became punishable by banishment to the outer provinces. Then it became punishable by imprisonment. Later, if treason was suspected, it became punishable by death.

Yesterday Adriel assumed that nothing could possibly be worse than being a Royal Knight and being part of a Noble Clan. Navigating Dabnodian high society becomes more tedious every day, as do the secrets that the soldiers serving Her Majesty are forced to keep. Now Adriel realizes that it can always get worse, and far worse than he had ever anticipated.

"...That's why Roy and I are working so hard to repair this machine. We need to open a rift home before Tamaran destroys Dabnod, and we're running out of time. There are only five weeks left." After a long pause, Damiana glances up apologetically. "Sorry. I know that this is a lot to take in."

A lot to take in is right. Damiana-er...future Damiana…has explained ten different times using ten different strategies, and it still feels like this is some sick joke.

"...Living on Earth isn't bad, to be completely honest. I am part of a group called the Teen Titans - their East headquarters. I like it. It's not Dabnod, but it's still a home."

This had made Adriel so angry that he screamed. "The Dami I know would never be happy in a universe without Dabnod! Maybe you aren't Damiana after all."

"Do you remember the day when you and Saeran tried to learn language transference from those two girls from Azarath? You caused a massive fight that Queen Guayusa herself could barely break up!"

Adriel didn't have a response for that. He still doesn't, and that portion of their conversation was over an hour ago.

"Earth wasn't easy at first. I was homeless. When I got hungry, I had to steal food."

"That doesn't sound like something that little Dami would do!"

"I'm surprised at how confident you sound. Aren't you the person who used to take me for rides on your Phoenix? We tried keeping it a secret so Saeran wouldn't find out. When he did find out, you got all the blame because 'little Dami would never lie to me!'." The teenage girl smirked sardonically in a way that only the prodigy of the Fire Phoenix Clan could manage. "Not everything I did matched people's perception of me even back then."

Adriel doesn't have an answer for that comment either. As for Damiana's reply to something that he had said, it will continue to bother him for years to come.

"You seem oddly alright after watching your entire planet blow up to smithereens."

Ringlets turned so black that Adriel suspected touching them might turn his hands to charcoal. "I'm not alright. There hasn't been a single night where I haven't dreamed about my last night on Dabnod."

Now they sit here staring at each other, Damiana's description of events yet to come playing through his mind on an endless loop. Tamaran will invade in the middle of the night little more than a month from now. On that night, Damiana's eleven-year-old self will be thrown into a space pod by Saeran. Before Dabnod's sun can rise, Tamaran will cause their planet to detonate. This will create hundreds, if not thousands, of homeless Dabnodians wandering aimlessly through the galaxy. It sounds so impossible! He doesn't want to believe it. Dabnod is in a bad place in its history right now, but that doesn't mean that its history is over, does it?

"Are you okay?"

Adriel guffaws. "No, I'm not okay! My planet is about to get destroyed, and I'm sitting here talking to time-travelers!" Guffaws make an unbelievably fast transition to loud, woeful, sobbing. "I'm not okay, but what I AM is crazy!"

"No. You're not crazy."

It isn't Damiana who says this, but the fellow who introduced himself as 'Roy'. The Ground Badger looks at him and, for the first time, realizes that his hair hasn't changed color. Not during their trip back to the room, not when he knocked on their bedroom door, and not once during the two plus hours that he has been conversing with sixteen-year-old Damiana. Adriel recalls Damiana's description of her crime-fighting group the Teen Titans and understands exactly who this person is. This is one of her teammates. Clearly this teammate of hers is a human being, solidifying Damiana's story that Dabnod was destroyed and that she has forged a new life for herself on Earth. The realization makes Adriel flinch.

"There was a time when I thought you were crazy, but now I know that you weren't. You were right about everything. See…we've already met… Or to be more precise, I've already met you. Not this 'you' but your twenty-year-old self. You said insane things to me about what the future held for me and Damiana. At the time I thought you were nuts, but now I understand. You knew that Damiana and I were going to come back in time to Dabnod and see all sorts of horrible things because you'd already met us here…right now…tonight. Even though you knew you sounded nuts, you didn't care and decided to warn me! So, no, you aren't crazy. This situation is crazy, but not you. You handle time travel and the end of Dabnod with an enormous amount of strength that I respect – both now and in the future."

Irises shift to green so quickly that Adriel feels an oncoming migraine. This human…has already met him…in the future?! So, he survives the destruction of Dabnod. More darkness is yet to come.

Damiana takes over speaking. "You survive the destruction of Dabnod and help the Teen Titans five years from now. Some of your actions are questionable, but you still help us." Running a hand through her gray ringlets, she asks nervously, "You've already helped us in the time that we came from. Will you help here, too? We can't do anything until we get the vengat clay."

"I-I don't know…"

"I'm so sorry, Adriel. I know that you don't want to hear any of this. I know it's a lot. I know that you want to stay here on Dabnod and be a Knight and have adventures with Saeran and your squadron forever. When I was little, all I ever dreamed about was going home to my cabin, hugging Mama and Saeran again, reading my books, and pretending that life was perfect." Tears fall from obsidian irises and roll down pale cheeks. "But that isn't reality. The reality is that Dabnod is already gone and there's nothing we can do. Roy and I need to go back to our own period. Help us fix the rift machine! Please."

"I-I still don't know…"

Roy stands, saunters over to Adriel, and yanks the young Squire to his feet. He gasps and stumbles away, but not before the human jabs him in the chest with an accusatory forefinger. "I don't know how you're the same person I met in mine and Damiana's time. You're the courageous guy who helped us search that museum in Metropolis to find what Black Shadow was after and then helped us fight that maniac's shadow creatures! You lead us into the abandoned Metropolis Mines knowing that Black Shadow was there because Damiana was captured. Sure, that was probably a trap now that I think about it. You needed that rift to open so that Damiana and I would be thrown back into the past…probably to keep the current timeline accurate if I had to guess your reasoning…"

Adriel dusts himself off, all the while trying his best to comprehend the incredible things that this human is relaying. Does his future self really help a group of Earth Superheroes fight a villain?! Evan as a Royal Knight, Earth's supervillains are nothing to scoff at!

"My point is that you're a brave guy that does incredible things. You don't shy away because a situation is difficult or scary."

More silence. Silence seems to be tonight's primary method of conversation. That is, until Adriel clears his throat. "Yes, but what if Dabnod's destruction doesn't happen?"

"What if it does?"

---

Earth: April 7, 6:30AM

Steel City

"Soldiers, we have been given our assignment. Two members of the Royal Council are accompanying us, as are Squadrons Four, Seven, Ten, Twelve and Fourteen. This assignment is nonnegotiable. If you refuse this assignment, you will be judged accordingly by Her Majesty Queen Guayusa. Dismissed."

Knight Master Urrvink's voice did not contain the authority that it usually did. His voice wavered and hitched as if he was a public speaker giving their first speech. Fourteen-year-old Adriel hadn't understood why. Province Five was beautiful. There were marvelous forests where the trees had bark the color of coral and leaves a vivid shade of tangerine. Some grasslands had grass that was not violet, but orange. This orange grass cured ailments as mild as coughing and as severe lung disease. There were also pink berries, red fruit, and purple vegetables the likes of which had never been seen. Province Five was an unparalleled paradise, and accepting a mission here had been elating.

Then his squadron, Squadron Thirteen, entered this little corner of utopia. Councilman Number Four, a very young man in his mid-twenties, gave the six squadrons of Squires their orders. "Search the town. There are people here with waning black crescents tattooed onto the left pectorals of their chests or into the center of their backs below their necks. If you see anyone with these tattoos, place them under house arrest. Additionally, search the greenhouses, medical clinics, and the homes of the apothecaries. If you find any vials filled with red syrup, then they shall also be placed under house arrest."

Once they were dismissed, Adriel whispered a question to Saeran. "What's going on?"

"There are people here who are organizing a rebellion against Queen Guayusa. We're trying to quell it."

"I understand that part. What happens after we place them under house arrest?"

Saeran shrugged while summoning streams of water into each of his canteens from the creek they were loitering beside. "Beats me. I'm just here to do my job."

"What if they want us to do something awful?"

"Then we do it. Orders are orders. Besides, if these people are rebels planning to poison Queen Guayusa, then they deserve whatever punishment is coming to them. Even death if it comes down to it."

Screams. The rest of that day's events were drowned out by bloodcurdling shrieking. Women with crescents on their backs were thrown into their cellars without much mercy from Saeran. Their children were tossed in alongside them by his squadron mates. It was awful to watch. The men would fight back and were much more difficult. Adriel had never witnessed this side of Knight Master Urrvink before, but he utilized his rock-wielding abilities to crack several skulls. Of course, nothing was more gruesome than the raids on the homes of the apothecaries. The Knight Master of Squadron Seven found an entire cabinet filled with vials of red syrup. House arrest was only the beginning for this poor apothecary and his child. Squadron Seven's Knight Master burned it to the ground.

Adriel remembers the wooden building turning to ash in his mind's eye. He sees it as clearly as if it were yesterday. Hands were clawing at a nearby window, tiny hands. The others had already begun marching away to raid the next house. People had begun barring their doors, and the house next door was no exception. When he was certain that nobody was looking, Adriel crashed a boulder through the glass, pulled out the tiny, five-year-old boy and his father, and told the two to run like the wind to Province Six. The only person who saw was Knight Master Urrvink who turned his head away and said nothing.

Every home in the town met the same fate as that apothecary's house. Sadly, the apothecary and his son were the only two who got away. Shrieking louder than fifty tea kettles echoed. Smoke blocked out the sun. Saeran rested a hand on his shoulder. Adriel tried not to cry but ended up doing so anyway.

"Don't feel bad. It needed to be done."

"No! It didn't need to be done! Those who broke the law should have been put on trial. The whole town didn't need to be torched! That was a town of mothers and fathers and children!"

"Adriel…"

"Adriel, wake up!"

Water splashes the Ground Badger in the face, causing him to sit straight up. No Province Five. No smoke. No screaming. Just the hard, metal, ground of his prison in the Titans East Tower. He feels relieved, although he probably shouldn't. The present is not faring much better than the past. When he looks up to see Saeran in his cell hovering over him, he questions if that flashback to Province Five is any less pleasant than the icy, onyx, stare of the water user.

"You're either very lucky or the Fates are very indecisive. It seems the Titans are considering that the story you told is the truth."

Adriel runs a frustrated hand over his face and stands up. "Because it IS the truth! I met Damiana and Roy in the past! Remember that mission we went on in Sclarthon a month before Dabnod was destroyed? That cook that looked like your sister, that WAS Damiana!"

Saeran sighs. "No, it wasn't! Have you seen Damiana? She is very twiggy. That cook was average weight."

"Has it never occurred to you that she could have put on fifteen pounds while on Dabnod? Dabnodian food and Dabnodian air was probably good for her."

Saeran shakes his head sardonically. "Make all the excuses you want. Just know that if Damiana and Roy don't find their way back by tomorrow night, we're pulling them back through the rift ourselves. I don't care what you say about meeting them in the past, or the timeline, or any of the other fogloreit that you claimed. All I want is my sister!"

"You know what? The only person talking fogloreit is you! You don't care about anyone but yourself. I thought losing your entire planet would make you more selfless, but it hasn't. You're still the same selfish Saeran trapped in the same self-centered, self-serving, bubble!"

"Selfish? How dare you? I served Dabnod and my Queen with pride!"

Adriel's ponytail is such a deep shade of midnight blue that it is nearly black. "Exactly! You never questioned anything that 'your Queen' wanted you to do. All you cared about was protecting yourself and Damiana. Do you want to hear my Saeran impression? Here it is:

"It's time to burn down an entire village? Alright! My Queen says so, and I don't want to get in trouble, so I'll kill these children like a good hivemind drone! Queen Guayusa just asked me to go to a Raxtin House with Jaegana? I'll do it without any concern for the consequences! Damiana went back in time, and because she warned people, thousands of space pods were created by the inhabitants of Province Seven and thousands survived? Who cares? I just want my sister! I'm safe and my sister is safe, so the rest of the universe can BURN for all I care!"

A flurry of icicles is shot at the Ground Badger, Adriel effectively dodging each one. Saeran's hair is blacker than a pool of ink. "The instant Damiana comes back, I'm taking her and leaving you and the Teen Titans behind. We don't need any of you!"

Saeran storms out of Adriel's prison cell, but not before hearing one last deep cutting remark from the Ground Badger. "Good luck convincing Damiana to go with you! She is nothing like how you envision her!"

Adriel is alone once more, but he doesn't much care. Damiana will be back by tomorrow, and she and Roy will talk the others into letting him out. That's not a problem. Saeran, however, will be a problem.

---

Meanwhile on Dabnod…

Adriel left. Roy doesn't blame him. He probably needs time to think. Personally, Roy is glad that Adriel finally decided to leave. It gives him time to think as well. In the present moment, he doesn't understand why he was so mad at Damiana earlier. Now that they've met Adriel in the past, everything that happened during their time in Metropolis is starting to fall into place. As Damiana sits on the bed beside him twiddling her thumbs, he decides to tell her as much.

"You know, I think I owe you an apology. Thinking back to everything that happened back in Metropolis, it makes sense that we just met Adriel." He chuckles. "Instead of being angry, I probably should have just let it happen."

Damiana gazes at him with soft pink eyes. "He is the one that sent us through that rift in the first place. I thought it was strange that he would lure everyone to Black Shadow's hideout only to be malicious. Now that we've met him, I don't think he was being malicious at all. I think Adriel was trying to protect our current timeline." The would-be Queen hugs herself tightly. "I hope whatever he is going through in our time-period isn't too bad. I hope Robin and Bee are being merciful to him…"

"Once we get back to the present, we can clear everything up. For now, we just need to focus on getting the vengat clay."

"Do you think Adriel will come back?"

"It's guaranteed."

Roy frowns in thought, mind wandering back to a conversation he'd had with Adriel. It was the same day they'd met. He'd used his employee access card to get them into the restricted areas of the Metropolis Museum of History and Astrology. The instant they were alone, the strangest pieces of advice began pouring out of the alien man's mouth. He doesn't remember most of the conversation, but he does remember this specific portion. For whatever reason, it stuck with Roy:

"Listen to me and listen carefully. Something is going to happen to Leila. What happens to her isn't going to be small. It will be big, and it is going to shake her to her core. Everything Leila has ever believed to be true is going to come crashing down around her. Reality is going to slap her across the face, and it is going to hurt."

"What do you mean 'reality is going to shake her'? What the heck are you talking about? You say that everything you're saying is going to make sense at some point, but is it really? Right now, it sounds like you're spouting off a load of crap!"

"Whether or not what I'm saying sounds true doesn't matter. Eventually what I'm saying will prove to be factual." The man had taken a deep, lengthy, breath prior to continuing. "The only thing that should matter to you is the only thing that matters to me, and that's Leila. When she is shaken to the core, she is going to need a pillar to hold her up. I'm not going to be able to serve as that pillar for a variety of reasons. Because of this, I'm entrusting her wellbeing to you, Roy. A person never truly knows what is at their core until their entire reality comes unraveled. Only then is it discovered if, at their core, a person is self-serving or self-sacrificing. When Leila's reality comes unraveled, when she discovers what is truly at her core, be the pillar for her that I cannot be."

"If something is really going to happen, what is it? And how the heck do you know about it?"

"As much as I would like to explain everything, I can't. It will explain itself soon enough." He had taken a nearly endless pause prior to continuing. "When it happens, you and Leila are going to wish it hadn't. Even if you aren't a Dabnodian, know that it's going to shake you as much as it does her. That's why I'm giving you forewarning; so, you can brace yourself."

When Roy gets back to the future, he owes Adriel the biggest apology of his life. Had he listened more carefully to begin with, their journey thus far would have been easier. Damiana has, in fact, been shaken to her core. So has he. Whether or not he has been a pillar for Dami is uncertain, but Roy is convinced that his presence has helped somewhat.

"Oh well. Even if Adriel doesn't come back, at least we warned him," states the would-be Queen matter-of-factly. "And at least we're super close to obtaining the vengat clay. It won't be too much longer before we get off this planet for good."

---

Damiana is almost too tired to eat her breakfast. As exhausted as she was last night, it still took her two hours to fall asleep after Adriel left. Now her head droops as she shoves a greasy chunk of reizen around the plate with her fork. When she wove the tale of their planet's destruction, Adriel looked as heartbroken as she had felt on the day of Dabnod's inevitable doom. How she hated telling him the truth! Yet, it was necessary. Roy knew how necessary it was. Damiana needs to be careful not to judge him. He did the right thing by forcing her to confess the truth about the future.

Meanwhile, Caen and Tenna are sitting across from them. The child jabbers at the archer with a million questions about English. How Roy can focus on answering the boy is beyond her. Damiana isn't sure if she will be able to focus on anything for the rest of the day.

"P-please p-pass the s-salt. Did I say it right?"

"Yes, you did. That was excellent!" Roy hands him the saltshaker. "Do you want pepper, too?"

Caen answers in English with shaky, wavering, words. "I would l-love s-some p-pepper."

"Here you go. Good job, kiddo!"

All the while, Tenna has been eerily silent. Damiana hasn't noticed. That is, until the mountaineer finally speaks. Somehow, she manages to sound both inquisitive and accusatory. "You and Roy were gone for a very long time yesterday. When you came back, there was a loud ruckus. Would you care to explain or is it best left a secret?"

"It's actually a long story. See, we found a guy that sells vengat, but we don't have the money for it, so we're working at his restaurant and his tavern to pay for it."

Tenna narrows skeptical, silver, eyes at the would-be Queen. "That isn't a long story at all."

"It gets longer…" Damiana shoves the rubbery chunk of meat in her mouth, purposefully chewing very thoroughly. When Tenna sighs, she finally swallows. "As you are aware, there are Knight Squadrons in Sclarthon – a lot of them. One Knight Squadron that came into the restaurant yesterday while I was working just so happened to be my older brother's squadron. Small world, huh?"

Fear overwhelms Tenna's features, though hair remains mint green and eyes remain silver. "And they saw you? Honestly, Damiana! That is so dangerous! You need to learn to be more cautious."

"Oh, it gets better. My brother's close friend, Adriel, followed Roy and I back to the inn. That was the ruckus that you heard. He saw my Fire Phoenix armband and wanted answers."

The mountaineer pales. "What did you tell him?"

"The truth."

A long, pained, sigh is her reaction. "Well, I hope this doesn't come back to bite us in the rear."

No more words are exchanged between the women. They eat in silence, Roy and Caen practicing English as a happy distraction. Damiana reflects on the mountaineer's remark. Oddly, she doesn't think that the incident with Adriel will have negative consequences at all.

---

Cooking. Scrubbing pots and pans. Going to the dining room to sooth angry customers. Meeting with Roy outside the tavern each night. Walking back to their inn on the other side of Sclarthon. This has been their routine for the past three days. Business has been slower these past few days than on the first day they worked. After subtracting the gems required for lodging and meals, they have only added fifteen gems to their vengat fund. They're still ten gems short.

The first two nights when they arrived back at the inn, Damiana and Roy spent time chatting with Tenna and Caen before bed without any further visits from Adriel. Last night, however, they did get a visitor. It was not the Ground Badger, but instead, Prophet Veng. The Fire Lily Tribe planned on leaving Sclarthon in the morning, the old prophet told them. Meaning that because Roy and Damiana do not have the vengat and are unable to leave, the Fire Lily Tribe left without them mere hours ago at sunrise. Tenna said that she and Caen will remain by their side, so the Titans are not entirely alone. Nonetheless, Damiana feels completely and utterly deserted. Alone in an unfamiliar region without a guide, the planet only one month and three days away from detonation - what are they going to do?!

The would-be Queen is elbow-deep in a large basin of water. She scrubs pots and pans, doing her best to focus on removing the grease rather than on the impossible task of navigating to the Capital City. Even if they're able to find their way, the customs and the atmosphere of each Province are unknown to her. She could end up getting them killed with one wrong move! It will be a long while before they obtain the vengat, they will now be traveling solo, plus they have seen neither hide nor hair of Adriel at the inn, the restaurant or at the tavern. Everything is hopeless!

"Lady Fire Phoenix, you have a visitor!"

Fushina doesn't enter the kitchen. The stout little woman gives such a boisterous holler that it is heard from the front of the dining room. A visitor? Surely, she must mean Roy. He comes to the kitchen at least twice each day for something to eat. Fushina has started announcing his arrival purely out of spite.

Damiana giggles. "Send him back here, Fushina! We have some extra trifdit!"

"Alright. Whatever you say."

When the double doors swing open, Damiana expects to see the ginger-haired archer. Who she sees in place of the archer is so surprising that she practically leaps out of her skin. A sunset-orange waist-length ponytail swishes in the breeze caused by the flapping double doors. Cherry red eyes lock with her lime green irises, albeit it is with hesitation.

"Are you able to take a break right now?"

Damiana stands frozen. Both cooks are gaping, not angrily, though they do seem curious.

"Is the rest of your squadron here?"

"No. It's just me, but not for long. I need to be back at the training grounds in twenty minutes, so we need to make this conversation quick."

The girl excuses herself and drags Adriel by the hand through the restaurant's back exit. They alley has a powerful stench of rotting food and animal feces, but for once Damiana is able to ignore it. After three days of absence, Adriel's presence is stunning. Damiana has many questions regarding his disappearance but doesn't speak until the door shuts behind them.

"What are you doing here? I thought you decided not to help."

Adriel's features turn bright beryl, clearly taken aback. "No! That's not what happened at all! I just needed time to clear my head. I thought about everything you and Roy said…a lot. So much that I haven't been sleeping. My flight maneuvers have been pitiful these past few days because of you, not to mention the new techniques I have been practicing with my rocks. I just can't get what you both said about Dabnod being destroyed out of my mind."

"Oh…"

"Don't worry. That isn't a bad thing. If I haven't been able to get it out of my mind, there's probably a good reason. It's like Knight Master Urrvink always says: Follow the urgings of your gut." Damiana raises a skeptical brow, prompting Adriel to elaborate. "My gut is telling me that something is coming. It isn't just my gut. You guys showed me evidence that is impossible to argue with. After some deliberation, I made the decision to help you and Roy however I can."

Damiana's hair shifts from lime to a brighter gold than Earth's sun. "Really? Thank you so much, Adriel! You came at just the right time, too. Prophet Veng, the leader of the Tribe from Province Ten that we have been traveling with, just left this morning. Roy and I are left without a guide, and so is our friend, Tenna, and her little boy. If you could act as our guide to the Capital City, that would be great!"

"Actually, I can probably do something better. It isn't even lunchtime yet, so the Tribe you're traveling with probably hasn't gotten far. Who knows? Maybe they haven't left yet. Go catch them."

Damiana groans as if she'd been stabbed. "Don't you get it? We can't go catch them. Roy and I need the vengat from the tavern owner, and we can't leave until it's paid for. We're ten gems short! It could take us two more days to pay Fulshako!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it."

Before Damiana can blink, a small silk pouch of gems lands in the palm of her hand. A bag of gems would be good enough, but this is a heavy bag of gems! "Oh, Adriel! Are you sure? You don't have to do this!"

"Yes I do. I want to help. You can have that money and more if you need it. There is just one condition."

"Okay. Whatever it is, I promise that Roy and I will comply."

The would-be Queen does not miss the miniscule, practically indecipherable, furrow of Adriel's brow. Concern is so palpable that it is impressive that his features haven't changed colors. "Promise me that you won't enter Province Two alongside the Province Ten Tribe. They stick out too much. Instead, stop at the Province Three border town of Avarin. Go to the trading post and get directions to the Grass Phoenix Inn. That's where I will be staying with my squadron tomorrow night. It's only a single day's trip to reach Avarin, so it will be impossible for us to miss each other."

Damiana purses her lips in contemplation. Travel with the Fire Lily Tribe no further than Province Three? Is that a good idea? What if she and Roy follow Adriel's instructions exactly and they still miss each other? Then they will be stuck without a guide either way!

"Hey, I see the look on your face. When I say get away from those Tribal wanderers and that Prophet, I'm just trying to protect you. Prophets are on the same list as traitors to the crown and lawbreakers. In the eyes of the Royal Council, prophets are a threat. You might be dead when Dabnod explodes – this is true – but if you're caught traveling with a Prophet, you'll be dead a lot sooner. I guarantee it."

"Why? I don't get it."

"I don't get it, either, but I don't need to. The only thing I do know is that Prophet Veng is the only Prophet of the Fates that Planet Dabnod has left." Grinning his familiar, Adriel, grin, he clasps Damiana's shoulders. Somehow, this single gesture is enough to ease all worries. "Now go find Fulshako, give him those gems, and get that vengat clay. Then take Roy and find the Fire Lily Tribe as fast as you can! The rest of my instructions can wait until you reach the Province Three boarder."

---

Roy is being dragged through the streets with his arm practically being torn from its socket. They dodge six-legged uikin and swiftly moving merchants, though that doesn't stop them from being shouted at. The archer still isn't fully caught up on what happened. The entire occurrence was a blur. Damiana dashed into the tavern, demanded Roy's pouch of gems, vanished into the office, and emerged with their promised portion of vengat clay and a pouch of gems that is still half-full. When Roy asked where she'd gotten the money and/or what she had to do to get Fulshako to hand over the vengat, his teammate responded with, "Not right now. Later! We need to find Tenna and then find the Fire Lily Tribe! They only left a couple hours ago! They couldn't have gotten far."

Thankfully, they don't have to go all the way to the inn to locate Tenna. They stop for only a few seconds to breathe before catching sight of the mountaineer and her son through the window of the bakery. It doesn't surprise Roy that they found them here. Rolls in Sclarthon are a sweet soft delicacy, and one gem buys an entire sack. They've been having rolls with breakfast every morning, as well as to accompany their dinnertime soup. They catch her just as she is exiting the bakery.

"TENNA!"

Damiana shouts so loudly that the mountaineer jumps and drops her sack of rolls. "Sweet Fates! Are you trying to give me a double heart attack?! What are you two doing here? You don't usually return until nightfall, let alone before noon."

"Forget about it. I'll explain everything later! I just have a very important question. Have Prophet Veng and the Fire Lily Tribe left yet?"

It is Caen that answers. "Lady Fire Phoenix and Roy are back! Yay!"

"Caen…"

"Sorry. If you need to know, they haven't left yet. I just saw a Fire Lily Tribe person at the market. They were buying tent poles because one of their tents broke."

Damiana leaps for joy. "That's great! That's the best thing I've ever heard! Roy, go catch the Fire Lily Tribe and ask them to wait for us. Tenna and I will go pack our things."

The would-be Queen disappears so quickly its as though she were a ghost. Tenna and Caen dash after her, shouting for her to slow down. It is only after Roy is alone outside the bakery that he makes his way to the meeting place designated by Prophet Veng – a large well at the city's boundary. Following Damiana's lead, he decides that it might be best to run. Fifteen minutes later, despite the sweat pooling on his back and under his arms, he is happy with his decision. The Fire Lily Tribe was already far beyond the well and on the honeycomb-colored trail leading out of Sclarthon. Roy puts Damiana's hollers for Tenna to shame.

"HEY! Don't go yet! Wait up!"

When Roy finally reaches Prophet Veng, thirty seconds of panting ensue before they can converse.

"Well, it seems you've decided to join us. Where are your lovely wife and that pair from Whisper Valley?"

"They're coming. Can we wait for a few minutes?"

"Sure. I don't see why not. We're camping tonight, anyway, so it's not like we have destination."

Roy frowns baffled. "No destination? You must have some place in mind."

"We do. We're heading for the border of Province Three and Province Two. The route we use usually takes about five days. So it will be five days of camping for us."

"Really? Dabnod only has a month left! Damiana and I need to get to the Capital City a little bit quicker than that!"

The old man strokes his beard. "Well… There is another route – the short trail leading through the Kendet Strip. Taking that route, you could reach Province Two in about twenty-two hours by foot, but I don't recommend going in that direction."

Emerald irises flood with concern. "What's wrong with taking the Kendet Strip? That route sounds so much quicker!"

"There is a lot of tension in that region these days – especially in the border town Avarin. Whatever you do, steer clear of Avarin."

---

Nothing felt better than reaching the road leading out of the city and seeing the Fire Lily Tribe and Roy waiting. Today is turning out to be a good day. They obtained the vengat with help from Adriel, plus they were able to catch up to the Fire Lily Tribe so as not to cross the entire expanse of Province Three alone. Damiana, Roy, Tenna and Caen loiter toward the back of the group. After an hour of walking slowly and catching their breath, Damiana is finally ready to share the details of her morning.

"…the money that paid for the vengat came from Adriel. He gave me a whole pouch! I mean, it makes sense. The Ground Badger Clan is a wealthy clan – twice as wealthy as the Fire Phoenix Clan! What feels like a huge amount of money to us is probably pocket change to Adriel."

Roy bores holes into her face with his gaze. "So that's your story? Adriel showed up, gave you money, and left?"

"No, not exactly. He said that we could keep the money, and possibly obtain more in the future, if we meet his conditions."

Tenna gapes with just as much cynicism. "What conditions are those?"

"The first is that we stop traveling with the Fire Lily Tribe the instant we reach the Province Two border. Apparently, Prophets are on the Royal Council's hit list. Being seen with a Prophet could cause trouble for us once we get too close to the Capital City, so Adriel offered to guide us himself. Once we get close to the border, he said to find him at an inn called 'The Grass Phoenix Inn' in a town called 'Avarin'. Squadron Thirteen will be spending the night there tomorrow on their way back to the Capital City. Avarin is only about a day's walk, so we will make it in time."

"I don't know if I like this," spats Tenna spitefully. "The idea of trusting a Royal Knight to guide us and protect us is like trusting a Tamaranean not to attack us in battle. How do we know that Adriel won't double-cross us? Isn't this the same Adriel that sent you back in time through the rift?"

"Yes and no. That Adriel was twenty years old. This Adriel is fifteen, and he hasn't experienced the destruction of Dabnod yet. This Adriel is close friends with Saeran and me and has been for years. Even if I'm older than the Damiana he knows right now, there's no way that he wouldn't help me."

"Alright… I will choose to trust your judgment, but I'm taking Caen and fleeing at the first sign of trouble. If Dabnod's destruction wasn't getting closer and if the inner provinces weren't the only places with fully functioning space pods, I would stay with the Fire Lily Tribe." Sighing, she adds, "Maybe I should have stayed in Province Seven. I'm sure some of their space pods will be operational in the coming weeks…"

Damiana is about to grant the mountain lady a bitter retort, asking why she would bother traveling this far if she hates Royal Knights from the Capital City, when Roy blurts out in inquiry. How the girl didn't notice earlier than this is beyond her, but Roy's face is ghostly pale.

"Avarin? You said that Adriel wants to meet us in Avarin?"

"Yes. The quickest way to reach the Capital City will be to cross through Avarin. I would have been surprised had Adriel named any other town." A muddled frown overtakes her face. "What's the matter? Are you okay?"

The archer grimaces. Something is horribly wrong. That very thought is plastered all over his face. Damiana is expecting him to say that the town is a toxic waste dump that will cause immediate cancer or that everyone in Avarin is a cannibal. Instead, Roy merely swallows and plasters on a smile.

"No. Everything is fine. Even if everything isn't fine, you're still right - Avarin is the quickest route. We need to get the Capital City and find a zirgnant tool as quickly as possible no matter the risks."

---

Whether or not he should have said something, Roy still isn't sure. Fourteen hours of walking haven't helped him make up his mind, neither have the grueling tasks of setting up their campsite. If watching Damiana all day didn't convince him to tell his teammate about the dangers of Avarin, he thought for sure that some time away from her would do the trick. Yet, it hasn't. The archer still wants to take the quickest route to Province Two no matter the costs. Besides, Adriel will be present. If there are any dangers being posed by Royal Knights from the Capital City, then certainly he will be able to give them a fair warning, thus nullifying whatever potential dangers Prophet Veng warned him about.

"Everything will be fine," he grumbles to himself while constructing the frame for their tent. "It's only for one night. We'll make it out of that town just fine."

Unbeknownst to the archer, he'd just spoken in Dabnodian rather than in English. Prophet Veng had been resting on a nearby log within earshot. The only time the archer becomes aware of his error or of the Prophet's presence is when the old man speaks.

"What town are you talking about? Certainly, you don't mean Avarin!"

Roy leaps, dropping both of his tent poles. "Oh! Hi, Prophet Veng!" The old man strokes his beard, causing him to raise both hands in surrender. "Alright, fine. Damiana and I are taking the short route through Avarin with Tenna and Caen. Damiana has a friend who is part of the Royal Knights who will help guard us. I'm sure we'll be okay, but thanks anyway for the warning."

Prophet Veng doesn't appear angry as he'd anticipated, but rather, brooding. "When do you plan on separating from our humble group?"

"Tomorrow. Sorry. We planned on telling you in the morning."

"It is quite alright. I'm happy that I found out sooner rather than later." His lips are pursed fretfully. "I've been putting something off. I should have told this story long ago during the frost. I also had ample opportunities during our travels, yet I still put it off. Well, it looks like putting it off is no longer an option." Although it is with much effort, the wise old prophet rises from his seated position. "Finish setting up quickly. The instant Queen Damiana returns from gathering firewood, I have something very important that I need to share."

---

It feels as though the day passed far too quickly. Roy sat up their tent and Damiana went with the other women to gather firewood. The sun has gone down, and she is preparing to turn in and go to sleep. She says goodnight to the Tribals and stands from beside their campfire, on her way to hers and Roy's shared tent. Then Prophet Veng calls out.

"Queen Damiana, won't you sit down? Since this will be the Flying Arrow Clan's and the Jawirth Clan's last night with us, I thought that we would do something special on this rare occasion."

Posture turns rigid. "How did you know that Roy and I are leaving tomorrow?"

"I told him," Roy puts in. "I didn't see any reason to delay it."

Prophet Veng's expression is pensive. "If you are taking an alternate route to the Capital City, I commend you for that. Do what you think is best, my Queen. However, since your party is leaving, we thought that we would wish you farewell with a story."

Damiana's reaction is a mere shrug. A story? Alright. She resumes sitting on a downed log beside Roy. The Fire Lily Tribe, on the other hand, cheers excitedly. Story night must be more thrilling than she initially realized. Chattering from amongst the throng confirms this.

"Oh, a story! It has been ages!"

"Doesn't our Prophet tell the best stories?!"

Prophet Veng thumps his long, wooden, walking stick carved from snow-colored bark against the ground. This silences everyone besides two of the women who pass qwernal jerky and dried berries to everyone as a story time treat. Damiana nibbles her jerky curiously. For what is supposed to be a rousing event, Prophet Veng certainly appears strained.

"I am not as old as other people that I've met, but I am still old. I have seen many things happen in my one-hundred and two years." The Prophet pauses, as if trying to find a way to continue.

Meanwhile, Roy whispers in her ear. Or at least he tries to whisper. His voice is rather pitchy. "One-hundred and two isn't that old?! How long do Dabnodians live?!"

"There isn't a specific number of years that we live," she explains with an eyeroll. "We're like humans. Dabnodians have an average lifespan, but there are still a lot of outliers. People in rural areas of Dabnod have shorter lifespans than people in cities. There are levels of healthy eating, exercise, and stress to consider, too, so the range is pretty varied."

"You know what I mean. What's the average?"

"The low end is one-hundred and ten – that translates roughly to seventy in human years. The high end is one-hundred twenty. Most people that I've met live to be in their one-hundred twenties, though on occasion I've met someone in their one-hundred thirties."

"So you've got forty extra years on me and the rest of the Titans?! That isn't fair!" The people of the Fire Lily Tribe shush his enraged shouts.

Damiana leans in and answers softly, "Statistically speaking, but who knows? It could only be ten years, or maybe twenty, or maybe thirty. In the end, only the Fates know for sure."

At long last, the throng is quiet enough for the old prophet to continue. Prophet Veng still appears as strained and pensive as he did before. Damiana stares with such intensity that her eyes shift to a hybrid color of chocolate and dark blue. Her curled locks are entirely navy. For a split second, the girl is surprised by her own hair color. It is a different shade of blue from the midnight blue that it turns whenever she's angry. It is only when the prophet speaks that this strange color no longer matters.

"Of all the things I've seen, there was an occurrence little more than a decade ago that still haunts me – some of you who have travelled with me for a lengthy span probably remember, actually. It was on a day roughly twelve years ago. We were on our annual trek, returning to Province Ten from the Capital City with all of the wares that we accumulated. We'd planned on spending the summer and early autumn in the flourishing wilderness of Province Ten before making another trek to the Capital City the following year the same as always. Our Tribe had just set up camp in this very area – in the valleys of Province Three – when a member of the Royal Council arrived on a brilliant blue water phoenix.

"Although I'd been in the Capital City, I hadn't entered the innermost section where the Palace lies in more than three decades. Seeing a member of the Royal Council, wearing golden armor bearing the silver and emerald crest of Dabnod, a bejeweled sword hilted on his belt and a forest green cape fluttering in the breeze, it almost felt like a companion of the Fates had come down to me from the heavens. Of course, I learned very quickly that this wasn't the case.

"The councilman introduced himself as Councilman Seven of the Water Flower Clan. He said that he was sent to find the wise prophet, Prophet Veng, and that he was sent on a personal errand from Her Royal Highness Queen Guayusa of Dabnod. She was seeking an audience with the wise prophet on an important decision. Queen Guayusa wanted to ensure that the Fates were on her side, and if they were not, the Queen wanted to know what she could do to sway the Fates to her side.

"I remember how hard I laughed! The absolute absurdity of the request still makes me chuckle! I also remember how angry my laughter had made the gentleman, so explaining was an absolute necessity for me to avoid imprisonment. 'Most esteemed Councilman, I would be happy to act a consultant for Her Royal Highness Queen Guayusa on behalf of the Fates. Just know that the Fates are the highest and most absolute form of Deity. They are all-knowing and cannot be swayed. If the Fates guide Her Highness against whatever course of action she wishes to take, her only options will be to heed their advice or suffer the consequences.'

"'Is that a threat, wise Prophet?' I am not a cruel or belittling person. Everyone who knows me knows this. Yet, I couldn't refrain from standing my ground with the councilman. 'That is not a threat, esteemed Councilman. That is a fact. If you would still like to bring me to Her Highness, bear this fact in mind.' Astonishingly, the councilman still wanted to bring me to the Queen. Having laid out my terms, I mounted the water phoenix and returned with the fellow to the Royal Palace.

"It was strange to me how little the Royal Palace had changed. I hadn't been called to the Royal Palace since the rein of King Brulein, yet everything appeared largely the same. Ostentatious carvings on the pink, rose stone, walls. Gardens so lavish that they could only be created with unnatural, lab-created, seeds and fertilizers. Fountains and statues worth more money than entire towns in the outer provinces. It's strange because I once took pleasure in the beauty of the Palace. As the years have passed, however, the people and places of the Palace City all feel the same. Lavishness and splendor adorn the outside, but inside it is cold and empty.

"Meeting Death Queen Guayusa was a surreal experience. I was ushered into the throne room. It was the same room where I'd met King Brulein thirty years prior. Aside from the curtains hanging from the massive windows being different and the vases standing in the corners being changed, the throne room was the same. A golden throne embedded with silver metalwork and green gemstones. Polished rose stone floors covered with green and silver area rugs. The chill covering my skin with pins and needles. The throne room was the coldest, emptiest, part of the Palace during King Brulein's rein and still was in the earlier years of Queen Guayusa's rein.

"Her Highness Queen Guayusa was the coldest part of the room. She reminded me of a porcelain doll. The Death Queen's long, rose red, curls were woven with white gemstones. Black ink lined her eyes, and her lips were stained red. There were rings on her fingers, and the orange dress that she wore was made from such fine fabric, with such intricate golden embroidery, that it must have taken the seamstress a month to make! Guayusa's eyes were also like a porcelain dolls. They were wide and pretty, but also lifeless. The smirk that painted her face was just as lifeless. When the Death Queen spoke, I swear until this very day that the room dropped a degree in temperature.

"'Prophet Veng of the Fire Lily Tribe, step forward.' I was almost hesitant to get closer to her. Long before that meeting, I had warned both the Elders of the Lightning Phoenix Clan and King Brulein that the child would grown into a tyrant that would destroy us all. When I saw little Guayusa on that day as an adult, I knew that my message from the Fates was accurate. Something about her made my skin crawl. How badly I wanted to flee from her presence! Simply being around her wanted to make me pray and reconsecrate myself to the Fates!

"When I stood at the foot of her throne, she'd made her request with a malicious smile. 'Thank you for coming, Prophet. I have a request to make of the Fates, and I would like to know what form of sacrifice I need to provide them with in order for them to meet my terms.' I didn't laugh at her the way I laughed at the councilman. Laughing at her was impossible. I'm ashamed to say that I dropped to my knees as a show of respect. 'Your Royal Highness, I cannot help you wager with the Fates. The Fates do not wager. What I can do, however, is hear your request and make an inquiry of the Fates regarding the results.'

"The smile turned into such a hard frown that I stood from my kneeled position and moved backward by four steps. 'I did not dismiss you. Return to my side at once!' 'Yes, Your Highness.' I remember the way she rested her cheek against her palm. The Queen had regarded me disdainfully. 'Fine. If that is all you can do for me, then I will make my request known.' There were guardsmen standing near the throne room doors that she'd yelled at. 'Close the doors! I would like my privacy!'

"They'd done as requested, and then Queen Guayusa continued. 'Dabnod's power has declined steadily throughout the centuries and especially throughout these past few years. Our economy is not doing well intergalactically, crime rates are rising in Province Five, and vicious rumors are being spread. This does not bode well for my mental health. If Dabnod were stronger in the same way that it was centuries ago, we would be a far superior presence on the intergalactic stage and my people would respect me. Without respect, I cannot properly provide for my people. But that's alright. None of these problems bother me, because I have a solution.'

"'If it is alright for me to ask, Your Highness, wouldn't this be a better matter for you to consult with the Royal Council about? Certainly, they are more well-versed in politics.' 'I've already consulted with the Royal Council about this. We all think that my solution is appropriate, but there are significant risks. I wanted to hear what the Fates have to say on the matter.' As a show of respect, I bowed to her. 'Alright. Then by all means, let's hear this clever solution of yours.'

"For once the Queen wasn't so cold. I swear that there was the smallest hint of anxiety in the twitch of her pinkie. 'Dabnod's bloodline monarchy must be restored. Our planet's current method of apprenticeship is not working.' My blood still runs cold at her words. 'A bloodline monarchy? Your Highness, you do not mean that you want to return to that archaic era?' 'Yes, I do. I've read all the history books. Seven-hundred years ago, Dabnod had such a powerful bloodline monarchy that we dominated the universe. We had two-thirds of the Andromeda Galaxy under our control. The planets that weren't under our direct control, we controlled through trade. It was Dabnod's golden era. I don't merely want that era back for vanity. Dabnod needs that era back for stability.'"

Damiana cannot believe what she is hearing. One of her hearts practically stops beating. Navy blue tresses are now lime. "A bloodline monarchy? That's crazy! That wasn't Dabnod's golden era! That was an era of violence and destruction and slavery! We're still embarrassed by that era and are still trying to make up for it now! Queen Guayusa would never suggest returning to a system of government where Dabnodians were the monsters of the galaxy!"

All eyes are now on her, but Damiana doesn't care. This story is ludicrous! Prophet Veng must be making it up! The forlorn expression in the old man's gaze, however, lets Damiana know that he isn't. It suddenly feels like there is a rock sitting in her stomach.

"I'm sorry, Queen Damiana, but I'm repeating Queen Guayusa's words exactly the way she said them. Her Highness Queen Guayusa had an audience with me one decade ago, and that was what she told me. When I asked her how she planned on reinstating a bloodline monarchy in such a manner where the people would not revolt, her answer was even darker."

The girl hugs herself tightly, Roy resting a hand on her shoulder. "What did Queen Guayusa say to you?"

"Hers and the Royal Council's plan was cunning. 'Reinstating a bloodline monarchy is a simple task,' she'd explained. 'I will seduce a powerful Royal Knight from one of the Capital City's most renowned Clans and take him to my chambers. It shan't be difficult. Then once I become pregnant and my stomach becomes too large to hide, I will feign illness and keep to my chambers. The Royal Council will perform all necessary tasks and keep me informed while I am in my fragile state.' The Death Queen's idea sounded so impossible to me that I almost laughed. Thankfully I kept my wits about me. 'What about after the infant is born? Surely your subjects will wish to know where you got the baby?'

"This was the last thing she'd said to me on that day. I'm glad that she dismissed me afterward. She said it so callously. 'Once the child is born, I will have my midwife take my offspring to live with whichever Clan the father hails from. The child will be raised by their biological father. If the father is married, so be it. Then his wife will raise the child until they are old enough to begin training as my apprentice.'

"I thought that I was free to return home after she told me her plan to birth a child in secret, as I hadn't received a vision from the Fates for the entire duration of our meeting, but I was wrong. Queen Guayusa assigned me a chamber and kept me locked up, waiting to see what I would hear from the Fates. She visited me once each evening, asking what vision the Fates gave me. Each time she visited, the Fates gave me no precognition about a child; not until after I'd been imprisoned for an entire month.

"On the day of that peculiar visit, she did not come in the evening. Rather, the Death Queen came the following day at dawn. Her visit struck me as particularly odd because, rather than her usual gowns and jewels, she was dressed in a nightgown with a robe tied over it. The instant she crossed the threshold into my chamber, I collapsed to the floor as my mind was flooded with images. The images came so rapidly that I could barely comprehend them. In that moment I saw a baby, and then a child, and then a young adult. I saw happiness, sadness, anger, and more power than any of the previous monarch from the past century. The single image that overtook all the others, however, were two clashing armies. In that moment, I understood why the Fates had waited so long to give me a vision. They wanted to wait until the seed was already planted.

"When I finally rose to my feet after the vision, I saw the Queen smirking. She didn't speak, but only because I didn't give her the chance. I walked toward her and pointed a finger directly in her face. Had she struck me down right then and there, I wouldn't have cared. So long as I received the opportunity to give Guayusa the Death Queen a personal message from the Fates.

"'The child that is in your womb will rise up against you.' She shot lightning at me, but for whatever reason, I dodged. 'You're telling me that I'm pregnant and my child will be my enemy all in the same breath?!' I firmly stood my ground. 'Yes. In three weeks, the Palace physician will confirm your pregnancy and quietly send for a midwife. Congratulations. Your efforts with whatever man you had in your chambers last night was not in vain.' 'I don't care about any of that! What do you mean my child will rise up against me?!' 'I mean exactly that. The child will see how corrupt you are, will create their own army, and rise up against you. The bloodline monarchy that you have tried so desperately to reestablish will be your undoing.'

"'You're lying! You're not a Prophet of the Fates! You're a liar!' That time I did laugh. 'I am many things, your Royal Highness, but a liar I am not. This will happen whether you like it or not.' I was banished from the Palace that morning and banned from ever setting foot on the Palace Grounds again. She tried banishing me from the Capital City, but the Royal Council did not grant her request. Prophets were highly esteemed at the time and banning one from the Capital City would not have done any good for her public image. Although, it seems she has done a good job at deteriorating the public perception of Prophets over the years…

"I never did learn what happened to the infant in my vision. Until this very day, I wonder if the infant I saw in my vision was just a hallucination induced by a month of isolation. The plan that Queen Guayusa relayed to me was shaky at best and it didn't seem plausible for her to hide a ten month pregnancy from the entire planet. I've told myself countless times over the years that Guayusa the Death Queen was never pregnant and that my vision was a mere hallucination. Yet, there are times when I wonder if my vision was a reality. Perhaps the bloodline monarchy has been in the process of being reestablished this entire time and nobody had any clue."

Silence. Heavy silence. Damiana gets up and walks into hers and Roy's shared tent without saying a word.

---

Silk curtains fluttering in the breeze from the open window is one of Damiana's earliest memories. An elaborate bookshelf stood in the corner of her room, each of her picture books arranged by author and genre. Sometimes Queen Guayusa would spend hours reading to her. Before going to bed on the nights she slept at the Palace, Damiana would make sure that all of her books were put back in the correct order. Only once after everything was arranged correctly could she sleep. She much preferred her little cabin with Mama and Saeran, though the Palace wasn't so bad. Queen Guayusa never sent the servants to prepare her for bed, though they often offered. Her Highness preferred to tuck Damiana in herself.

One specific memory is striking with the intensity of an atomic bomb. Damiana remembers sitting in her bed reading, anticipating that it would be a long time before the Queen's arrival. Surprisingly, Queen Guayusa popped her head through the doorway only a short time later. This had been about a year before Dabnod's destruction, so Damiana was around ten years old.

"Ah. I see you're already in your nightgown and ready to go to sleep?"

Damiana abruptly stood up, put her book away, and returned to the bed. "Yes I am."

Smiling, Queen Guayusa took a brush from her dresser, sat down behind her, and began brushing the tangles out of her curled ringlets. "What happened? Did you go on a forest expedition? Your hair is a mess and there is dirt on your face!"

Actually, Damiana had gone riding on Adriel's Phoenix while Her Highness had been at a meeting. The dirt came from the fall she took when she stumbled after the ride was over. The loops Adriel's phoenix flew in always made her dizzy.

"I went back to the cabin to say hi to Mama, and I fell down the hill," she'd fibbed.

Admittedly, the girl had always twiddled her thumbs whenever anxious around Queen Guayusa. That night wasn't any different, because Her Highness saw through the façade straight away.

"Really? That's strange. Your mother has been at the Palace all day long tending to my chambers. What were you honestly doing?"

"Fine, I confess. I was with Adriel! He took me for a phoenix ride..." Never had she winced so hard. Certainly, Queen Guayusa would give her the most severe verbal lashing of her life!

Much to her surprise, the Queen had chortled. "You were with Adriel? Well, that's quite alright. Adriel is a very kind boy. A strong rock user, too. Spend all the time you want with Adriel." With a pat on the head, she'd added, "Besides, I'd rather have you dirty than injured. I'll draw you a bath right away."

"Can I use the bath salts and the bubbles?"

"Anything for you, little princess."

Come to think of it, Her Highness had used that nickname often. It was always in private, but Damiana had always assumed that it was because it was a pet name not meant for public ears. Little princess…

Damiana sits straight up in her sleeping bag. She has been trying for hours to sleep, and it is impossible! All she has achieved is getting these horrible, confusing, memories stirred up in her brain! A bloodline monarchy? Prophet Veng's story is utter nonsense! If the old prophet hadn't been so kind to them these past couple of months, then Damiana would give him a piece of her mind in the morning! How many nights of insomnia does she have to look forward to now?!

Giving up all hope of reaching a point of slumber, Damiana crawls out of hers and Roy's shared sleeping bag, steps over the archer, and makes her way to an obscure trail of trodden grass where the Fire Lily Tribe had traveled earlier. The girl treks through the tall, violet, grasses, and the dangling, orange, vines of the willow trees native to Province Three. She'd seen a pond while out gathering firewood. The pond isn't far; only a quarter of a mile away. Upon reaching the pond, Damiana removes her dress and undergarments and places them on a nearby rock. Before jumping in, she heats it slightly with her fire. It isn't hot enough to harm the fish, but it's warm enough to feel nice on her skin. When Damiana submerges up to her neck, she sighs with contentment.

"It isn't as relaxing as a shower on Earth, but it's still nice," she whispers into the sultry air. It suddenly occurs to her that warming the pond wasn't necessary. They're traveling through the inner provinces. It's always warm, if not muggy, here. She stares into the night sky at the waning, nearly full, moon for the longest time before dissolving into tears. Damiana isn't sure how long passes, but by the time she dries her eyes, the moon is high in the golden sky. "Sweet Fates, if you can hear me, can't you just zap Roy and I forward in time and return us to Earth? I never thought I would say this, but I don't want to be on Dabnod anymore. I want to go home to Titans Tower. I can't take another day on this planet! I want to go somewhere where my life makes sense!"

Rustling comes from the tall grasses, but Damiana thinks nothing of it. Qwerthzigs and qwernals scurry through the grasses all the time. When she hears heavy footsteps and the sound of the willow trees' leaves parting, however, she turns around. Roy towers at the edge of the pond, rubbing his eyes drowsily. He must be groggy, because he didn't bother putting on his tunic. He only wears his brown pants and his knee-high, leather, boots.

"Dami, come back to bed. Whatever you're going through, we can talk about it in the morning. I'm sorry. I know Prophet Veng's story was hard for you but depriving yourself of sleep won't help."

The girl sinks down into the water so that she is chin-deep. When she sighs, bubbles float to the surface. "I can't sleep no matter how hard I try. I'm not coming back to bed."

Roy groans loudly, preparing to take a seat on the rock where Damiana laid out her clothes. When his fingers brush against the fabric of her discarded undergarments, he must leap a foot into the air. "Dear God! Are you naked?!"

Damiana rolls her eyes. "What's it matter? It's dark outside. I can barely see you! Even if we could see each other, we've seen each other naked before anyway."

"Uh…." Even in the blackness of the night, Damiana can tell that his cheeks are red merely by the tone of his voice. "Well… Still! Please put your clothes back on!"

"Roy, Queen Guayusa may have tried to reestablish a bloodline monarchy! That is the highest possible crime that any monarch could possibly commit! And I was that woman's apprentice! Being naked in the dark in front of someone who has already seen me naked is the least of my worries."

Much to Damiana's astonishment, her teammate yanks off his boots and stocking and sticks his ankles into the pond. He doesn't enter any deeper. He sits down on the grassy bank. "If you don't mind me asking, why is a bloodline monarchy such a bad thing?"

"There was a bloodline monarchy during the era of the Ancient Kings. In those days, it was only the fifteen most powerful clans who lived in the Capital City. After generations of marrying only individuals from the strongest clans, the Royal Family developed a rare gene that made their elemental abilities substantially stronger than any other family on the Planet. You think Queen Guayusa and the Royal Knights destroying Province Five was bad? Imagine a King with enough power to destroy that Province by themselves by only lifting one finger. Imagine an entire family with that kind of power. They would be able to dominate entire planets! And they did, too.

"What Queen Guayusa said in Prophet Veng's story was true. We once controlled two-thirds of the Andromeda Galaxy. Even Krypton was at our mercy during that era. Eventually Dabnod's own citizens became so thoroughly terrified that they staged a coup and they won. Since then, there have been a number of strict guidelines set up by the Royal Council. Firstly, there would be many clans living in the Capital City instead of only fifteen. Secondly, the original fifteen clans would be halted from marrying or reproducing with one another. Marriages were strictly arranged so that this genetic mutation would never occur again.

"While attention was given to all of the original clans, special attention would be given to the Water Flower Clan, the Wind Viper Clan, the Lightning Phoenix Clan, the Fire Phoenix Clan, and the Ground Badger Clan. Our genetic mutations persisted throughout the centuries. A single union between individuals from these two families could produce offspring more powerful than Dabnod could handle."

Damiana feels the weight of Roy's stare. "Oh." An endless pause ensues and then the question comes. Somehow she knew that he would ask it. "Your father is from the Fire Phoenix Clan, meaning that you're from the Fire Phoenix Clan… And you said Queen Guayusa hails from the Lightning Phoenix Clan?"

She can't help it. Once again, the girl dissolves into tears. "Yes!"

"Dami—"

"Don't 'Dami' me! You know I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight! I might not be able to sleep again! Everything keeps getting worse and worse!"

Roy is on his feet. "Please come back to the tent and at least try to sleep. Don't stay out here by yourself all night."

"I'm staying right here! If you don't want me to be alone, then strip down and jump in!"

The archer's brown pants and his underwear are thoroughly discarded on the same rock as the would-be Queen's clothes. Damiana is no longer fully submerged, but stands so that the water comes up to her waist. Hair and irises glow magenta against the golden night sky.

"Are you crazy?! I was being sarcastic!"

"Really? But I thought it was dark and we've already seen each other naked. Besides. I'm not about to leave you in a pond alone in the middle of the night."

Damiana rolls her eyes through tears. "I'm flattered by your concern."

"Hey, don't be like that. You're freaking out, and I can tell. I'm not going anywhere. Especially not while you're like this."

He is on one side of the pond, and she is on the other. All it takes are a few steps from each of them to meet in the middle. For a split second, they each forget how completely and utterly bare they are.

"Thanks. I swear you have been the only thing keeping me sane."

"Same here. I would have gone nuts the instant we landed on this planet if it wasn't for you."

Roy gives what is supposed to be a friendly clap on the shoulder. Instead, she loses her balance and falls against him. There is just enough light from the moon and from the stars for them to see each other. The scant light glistens off of the water droplets that cling to his pecs and biceps. Emerald eyes with honey brown flecks are turned a much richer color from the light of the silver stars. Whatever amount of reserve the girl has had for these past two months suddenly disintegrates. She pulls Roy's head down to her height and locks him into a kiss. Although she can't see it, the rose red of her hair is made brighter by the light of the lilac moon and the silver stars practically makes her skin iridescent. Roy kisses back with just as much intensity, all remnants of willpower breaking down.

Damiana isn't sure when or how it happens. It is partially her jumping and partially Roy putting a hand on each outer thigh, but her legs are wrapped around Roy's waist. Their lips are locked so tightly that they don't separate for air until Damiana is laying on the grassy bank with Roy on top of her. When they break for air, it is only for a few seconds. Damiana kisses Roy's neck, his collar bone, his chest, and then returns to his mouth. During their second break, Roy sucks and nibbles her neck.

"Everything is going to be okay. It doesn't matter how bad things get on this planet. I won't let anything happen to you. We will get back home to Titans Tower and Adriel and Saeran and everything will be okay. I promise."

More tears. Damiana is tired of crying so much! "Thank you, Roy. I won't let anything happen to you, either. I promise."

Their gazes lock and their fingers are intertwined, the redhead hovering above Damiana. Realizing the position they're in, he unlocks one of their hands to hoist himself off of her. Damiana grabs his arm and pulls him back down with desperation she wasn't aware she felt. Emerald eyes gawk at her with such shock it's as if he'd received a jolt of electricity.

"A-are you asking me t-to…?"

"Y-yes! I am…"

"Are you sure?!"

"Y-yes."

"You don't sound sure."

"I am sure, okay! I-I'm just nervous."

Roy gives her a deep, soft, kiss that fills her stomach with more knots than she realized it could hold. "Don't be nervous. I won't hurt you. I'll go slow, okay. Just tell me if you want me to stop."

"Okay. I will."

For a long, lingering, second, Damiana questions if this is actually happening. When she feels it, she knows for certain that it is happening and that she isn't dreaming. It hurts, but she knows that Roy doesn't mean to. He goes as slowly as he possibly can, all the while kissing her neck and asking if she's alright. For the first few thrusts the 'yes' that she answers with is a lie. The pain is searing as if she is being torn open! She wraps her arms tightly around Roy's neck, wincing and whimpering.

"Do you want me to pull out?"

"N-no, don't! I want to keep going."

"Okay…"

He gives another deep kiss, clearly doing his best to comfort her without fully comprehending the pain that she's experiencing. A few thrusts later he again asks if she's alright. This time the 'yes' isn't a lie. It doesn't feel as awful as it did before. Then, a minute or two later she's breathing heavily and moaning. She no longer hangs tightly to Roy out of pain, but is throwing her arms against the grass in delight. Why she'd been keeping her distance for two straight months is a mystery. The Fates couldn't have created any sensation more blissful!

"Can I go faster?"

"Please!"

His response isn't just thrusting faster, but a series of short, sweet, kisses to her breasts, neck, and face. Then, just as quickly as they'd decided to do it, it ends in mess of sweat and stickiness. For the longest time, neither of them says anything. They lay curled up together on the shore bank. The first to speak is Damiana. She isn't sure why she says what she says. All she knows is that it is hesitant and comes out in a whisper.

"Thank you, Roy."

He smirks, not his arrogant smirk, but a gentle one and buries his fingers in her hair. "You're welcome, Dami." Then he pecks her on the forehead.

"Can we go back to the tent?"

"Sure."

Roy stands, pulls her to her feet, and the two of them get dressed. Right now, Damiana feels amazing. She doesn't want to think about how she will feel in the morning.

---

A/N: I admit that I packed a lot into this chapter, but it was fun to write! I hope that it was just as fun to read. Writing the meeting with Adriel was a bit difficult. I tried to make it seem believable, and I think the final edit that I went with turned out good. And yes. We will soon be saying goodbye to the Fire Lily Tribe. Things will be picking up in a huge way next chapter. The closer we get to the Capital City, the closer we get to the climax, though what happens in Avarin will be just as dramatic as my plans for the Part IV finale, which I am planning to complete within the next 3-5 chapters. As for the lovemaking scene, I tried to have a decent amount of build-up throughout Part IV so that it didn't seem to come out of nowhere. I also wanted it to happen in an impulsive fashion in which teenagers would decide to make love. I think I put that scene in a good spot where it didn't take away from the rest of the story.

Anyway, thank you for reading! I will see you next chapter! :)

Forever and Always,

~OCQ