"Destination: Rhena. Time until orbit: twenty one minutes. Hypersleep: terminated." An automated voice droned as something cool brushed across my face, slowly bringing me back into consciousness. I stared at the ceiling, bewildered, as my seat returned to its upright position.

Had it really been three months? It felt like it hadn't even been three minutes...

"Rise and shine, humans," Thorel yawned, stretching his back.

"Humans?" Iveya frowned.

"Oh, I never told you, did I?" Thorel laughed. "I'm not a human. I'm a Lessaenite- an Iceheart, in fact."

"What?" Megan gasped.

"I'm not one of those Icicle Hall crazies, though," he grinned. "I only Turned because my uncle- Amanda's dad- forced me to. Yeah, I'm your late President's cousin, if that lends me any credibility. My name's Thorel. Thorel Myers."

"He's good," I confirmed. "He tried to save my sister so many times..."

"And I'm still trying," Thorel sighed darkly. "Also, we crossed the border into Rhenan space about five minutes ago. That means we're officially in the Lessaenite Empire, and my mission is technically complete. Since I don't have to follow Royal mission protocol anymore, I'm now allowed to answer any questions you might have."

I smiled at his announcement. Amanda had practically lived for that mission. Hopefully, at least now, she was happy.

"So, once we get to Rhena, what's the plan?" Theo asked.

"I'm going to try to land us in the West Arabella province, which is mostly forest with a few scattered villages. When we find the nearest village, we'll tell them we've got the lost princess. That'll guarantee they'll find us someplace to stay. However, I'll have to leave you tomorrow morning. I'm expected back at the palace in a few days, to report on my mission."

"So, you're going to go tell my mom exactly where I am?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Nah, I'll give her the wrong coordinates," Thorel grinned. "I disabled her trackers on you guys while you were sleeping, so she'll never know I'm lying."

"Prepare to enter orbit," the automated voice returned.

"Look at that!" Megan gasped, pointing out the ship's left window. A chorus of excited whispers filled the ship as we stared at the approaching planet. We were so close, it looked like we were skimming across Rhena's surface as Thorel brought us safely into orbit.

*The Glitches' view of Rhena*

"How long until we can land?" I asked.

"We'll need to circle half the planet to get to the right spot, but it shouldn't take very long since Rhena's rotation is currently working in our favor...I'd say approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. Meanwhile, I think you'd like a good look at yourself," Thorel winked as the rest of the ship's lights flipped on.

"Whoa!" Megan sucked in a deep breath of air.

"What happened?"

"Your face!"

"Here you are," Thorel handed me a small mirror. My heart skipped a beat as I gazed into it. Without the illusions, it didn't feel like I was even looking at myself. It was more like looking at a younger picture of-

"Saralee..." Thorel trailed off, completing my thought. "The resemblance is uncanny."

*Viviana's true appearance*

"This is so weird," I held a strand of my now black hair up to my face. "I look like a Lessaenite."

"You are a Lessaenite," Thorel laughed.

"But, how am I supposed to blend in on Rhena? I literally look the opposite of Rhenan. And, my Aura's grown while I was sleeping. It's clearly visible now, everyone will be able to see that it's edged with silver. Everyone will be able to tell that I'm an Arystenn."

"That's good!" Thorel exclaimed. "People on Rhena literally worship you. I heard that in one village, there's even a shrine to you right next to the temple of Lumys."

"Well, that's not a ton of pressure at all," I sighed.

"Rhena believes in you, Vivi," Thorel smiled proudly. "They will help you. Trust me."

I nodded, watching the rugged features of the Empire's least developed planet pass by underneath us.

"I think I might be able to pull us in," Thorel announced. "We're positioned to drop right into West Arabella, but since we can't exactly go to an actual spaceport, it's going to be a pretty rough landing. Fasten your seatbelts and close your eyes, people."

"Dropping below orbital velocity," the ship's automated voice warned as the ship careened to the left. Thorel straightened it out with a few gentle tugs on a joystick.

"Okay, here goes," he took in a deep breath before slamming down a green button to his left while shoving the joystick forward. I shrieked as we lurched forward, growing closer and closer to the planet. Flames enveloped our spacecraft as we cut through Rhena's atmosphere, diving through pure whiteness.

"Altitude: five miles from surface," the ship intoned.

"I know it doesn't look like it, but I actually know what I'm doing!" Thorel yelled. "However, we are currently on fire, and that's not good! I'm going to try to land us in a lake so we don't spontaneously combust on contact with the ground!"

That's reassuring.

"Altitude: three miles from surface."

At this point, we were beginning to see layers of clouds beneath us. I took them in, imprinting them in my brain, just in case they were the last clouds I would ever see...

"Altitude: two miles from surface."

We were falling through the clouds. Annoyingly, they did nothing to put out the flames that surrounded us, baking us.

Stupid clouds. So much for being filled with water.

"Altitude: five thousand feet from surface."

A lush forest came into view below us, broccoli-like treetops stretching in an endless mat as far as the eye could see. We sailed over these effortlessly, but there was still no water in sight, until-

"Altitude: two thousand feet from surface."

A lake! No, more like a landlocked ocean! We cheered as we approached the life saving body of water, which appeared to be no more than a puddle from our height.

"Altitude: seven hundred and fifty feet from surface."

Thorel aimed the ship's nose downward, and we began to fall rapidly, aimed at the lake.

"Altitude: two hundred feet from surface."

"When we land, get out! Leave everything and get out or you'll drown!" He shouted.

"Altitude: fifty feet from surface."

Kelly squeezed my hand as we hit the surface of the lake with a gigantic splash. The flames were instantly extinguished as water began to flood the ship. Thorel fumbled with the hatch, pushing it open only to let more water in. I closed my eyes, sucked in a huge gulp of air, and swam towards the exit, leaving the exit and kicking my legs desperately, letting the water take me upward.

Finally, after what felt like ages, I popped up into the open air. I gasped, shaking my head to get the water out of my ears and opening my eyes. Thankfully, the shore was in sight, and Thorel and Megan were already on their way to it.

Swimming in my clothes and shoes was slow and awkward at best, but I was making progress. I made sure to stay close to the back of the group and always remain in sight of Kelly- she was the youngest, after all. It couldn't hurt to keep an eye on her.

By the time I managed to pull myself onto the river's muddy banks, my muscles- both physical and Aural- ached and I was thoroughly soaked. I laid there, shivering and exhausted, until I acquired enough Aural strength to push some warmth into my bones.

"Everyone, say your name," Thorel commanded weakly.

"Viviana."

"Blake."

"Justin."

"Dawn."

"Priya."

"Megan."

"Theo."

"Iveya."

"Vince."

"Ellie."

"Calvin."

"Is that everyone?" Thorel asked, turning to me.

"No," I whispered, desperately searching the area with my eyes.

"Kelly," Kelly whispered weakly, poking her head out from under a large leaf.

"That's everyone," I nodded, relieved.

"Good," Thorel smiled. "Congratulations, everyone. We're all alive and in one place...for now."