Fleagle and Downton Don both ducked as Master Monolith flew over the ground and slammed into a hill. They jumped up and avoided a beam of purple energy from the creature as it tore through a small village in the English countryside.
“LEAVE US ALONE!” Fleagle jumped up and Downton Don gave him a quick boost with a blast of air from his hands. Fleagle landed on the back of the red creature and bit down with his fangs into the things shoulder.
It struggled and fought, but then fell to its knees. It weakly grasped at Fleagle before it finally fell face down in the dirt.
Fleagle jumped off and frowned at it. “Uh... guess I hit a soft spot.”
Master Monolith stomped over and looked at the fallen creature, “Did we get it?”
Downton was about to say something when they all saw the creatures body glowing bright. “Aw, crap. It’s gonna explode!” He turned and ran.
The trio got about ten yards before the creature exploded into a cloud of red dust that evaporated on the air. There was no shockwave or heat, it was like a shadow being chased away.
“What the hell?” Fleagle stated.
“The sky!” Monolith pointed up.
The eerie dark skies grew brighter as the clouds in space drew back. The distant sun could finally be seen once again, setting on the horizon. A warmth returned in a breeze that whisked across the heath, dancing the soft grasses around.
Fleagle smiled, “Is it finally over?”
“This is Ivanka Hoffman with INN. As of 3 P.M. Easter Standard Time, the Legion creatures have all been destroyed and the strange clouds that blocked the sun from space are gone. The Renn Tech spheres are unaccounted for, and a dangerous starship in orbit has disappeared. BADGE has issued an official announcement that the situation is at a turning point for the better. At the same time, reports came in across the globe of a strange purple light that bathed the western hemisphere for a short period of time. What this was is still a mystery, and we hope BADGE will shed light on that situation soon. The United Nations has issued a caution to be ready for the worst, but to begin returning to our cities and homes where possible.”
Director Nova walked into the infirmary with Strange Quark behind him. He found Dr. Henderson leaning over a biobed with Alex Fae Murphy lying in it. She ran a scanner down his body and then checked the readings.
“Doctor?”
She looked up with a smile. “Sensors picked up life signs from the morgue unit where we had his body stored. I had him moved here immediately. He has a pulse, he is breathing, and there is definite brain activity.”
“How?” Strange Quark asked.
A weak voice whispered, “Where’s my baby?”
Everyone looked to see the tired eyes of Alex looking at them with his head slightly turned. Nova walked over. “Your baby is sleeping in my quarters in a crib.”
Alex managed a gentle smile and closed his eyes.
Dr. Henderson quickly looked up at the readings; a flash of tension in her quickly evaporated. “He’s resting. I’ll keep a close eye on him.”
Quark said, “Doc, there’s another patient you might need to look at.”
She said, “I’m sure there are many.”
“This one is... different.” Quark gave off a comical smile.
Nova walked through the station to the Arboretum, which had the largest glass dome that looked out into space. A glorious purple light bathed the trees and grass around him. He looked up at the giant Krystal Fae still floating in space. She looked to him.
“Can you hear me?” Nova called out.
She gave a gentle nod.
“Your husband is recovering, and your baby is fine.”
A comforted smile graced her face.
Nova said, “Can you return to your normal self?”
She shook her head, her hair flowing as if in water.
Strange Quark walked up to Nova, holding a daiquiri. “I think she’ll need larger quarters.”
Nova huffed at the humor. “Can you help?”
“I can.” Quark took a sip of his drink.
Nova looked at him, giving him a commanding glare until Quark realized this wasn’t a question but a request.
“Oh, right. Okay, gimme a sec.” Strange Quark sized her up and then considered what he would do. “Okay, spatial dimensions are right, and... HERE!” He pointed next to Nova.
Krystal winced with pain, and her body buzzed with blue light. She remained in space and enormous.
“Welp, that didn’t work.” Quark said.
“Obviously,” Nova retorted. He looked up at Krystal. “We will find a way.” After she nodded in understanding, he turned to leave the arboretum.
“Whoa! What’s that?” Quark spoke just as a siren announced a warning.
“Unregistered teleportation incoming. Alert.”
Nova looked around, ready for a fight in case Drocha had one last gimmick up his sleeve. A bright purple and black portal opened up in the middle of the arboretum. What came out was nothing he expected. Five men walked out, each six feet tall and had enormous black and white monarch butterfly wings on their backs. After them came a unit of ten satyrs. Torrik Treeleaf was in the lead of the Satyrs.
“Torrik?” Nova approached the magical warrior.
“I know you told me to go home, that I had done enough and needed to return to my world. But this world was in a state of confusion and danger. I couldn’t just turn my back on you. I gathered a small army to return and help fight your enemies. However, we just sensed an incredible surge in fairy magical power that caught our attention.”
“I believe that is what you sensed.” Nova pointed up.
Torrik looked to see Krystal. “Oh, so that explains the power. Krystal is alive... I can’t believe it.” He turned back to Nova. “The war with Drocha — is it still raging?”
Nova shook his head. “Krystal thwarted Drocha’s plans, and she destroyed his minions. He was crippled and fled deep into space. We are free of him.”
“Good. I have an army ready to enter your world. But I suppose you do not need them.”
Quark asked, “I thought you weren’t magical enough to sense across the barriers between worlds?”
“I’m not, but Queen Isadora is.” He turned and then bowed.
Another team of the butterfly-winged men approached while an older woman in a silk dress, with withered butterfly wings on her back, sat on an open-topped litter being carried by four of the men.
The old woman smiled as she gazed upward. “Ah, a fairy. But she is in pain. Oh, dear.”
Nova approached her. “Greetings, I am Director Nova of BADGE.”
She looked at him and cocked her head. “A powerful creature indeed, and an old one. Fascinating. I am Queen Isadora of the Summer Pixies. I am the eldest and most powerful of the living Fae kinds in all of Yohan. I sensed great distress in fairy magic from across the barriers and came to offer aid.”
Nova asked, “What aid can you provide our friend?”
Queen Isadora smiled. “I am glad you call her a friend. It does you well. There is much I can do with the help of the others. Come, come, all. Aid me in this effort.” She held out her arms.
The other pixies fluttered their wings, which glowed, and the satyrs held up their hands, crafting green glowing magic.
Isadora said, “Come to me, Fae. Stand with us. Be in pain no more.”
Krystal glowed extra bright and then her body turned to energy and flowed down through the glass and to a single point of light between all the magical creatures. The light formed into a person, finally becoming Krystal Fae once more, dressed in a beautiful gown of flowing colors and light. She had fairy wings on her back and a pearlish glow to her skin.
“Krystal. I am so glad to see you.” Nova walked over to her. She jumped over and gave him a great hug.
“Nova. How can I thank you for watching my baby?”
He actually hugged her back. “It was a blessing. And I knew I would put her back in your arms one day.”
Queen Isadora spoke in her regal, gentle voice. “Ah, my friends.”
Nova let go of Krystal and looked back just as Santa and EB came into the room. They both had wide eyes and then quickly walked over and bowed before the queen.
“Queen Isadora.” Santa acknowledged her.
EB bowed to the grass. “Your Majesty.”
Quark asked, “You know her?”
Queen Isadora smiled and tapped each with her hand so they could rise. “Long ago, I met many Vexillians when they visited our world. These two wore different faces then, but I know the magic within them.”
Santa said, “That was a time before the fall of our world. We call this place our home now.”
“I am sorry for your loss, General. But I am glad you seem to have found good company.”
EB said, “We have found GREAT company. This world is awesome and fun and happy. These people are just the nicest, and they have some cool stuff. You gotta try chocolate. It is AMAZING!!!”
Santa put his hand on EB’s head to calm him down. “Pixie Queen, since you are here, may I ask for your help?”
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