Small footsteps echoed throughout the hallway as servants dodged the small running figures. "They're at it again today," one servant sighed as she picked up the basket of laundry. "Why can't they be quiet like Neona?"

Another servant scoffed, "Seriously, Emi? All she ever does is lock herself in her room doing Sohalia knows what. I'd much prefer seeing her younger sisters' act like children instead of being a shut-in. Do you have any inkling as to how long it's been since she's last made a public appearance?"

Emi pouted as she snapped, "At least she's not making a mockery of her family! Have you seen Kamaria lately playing around with swords and wild beasts? She acts as if she was a man,"

One of the maids overheard the conversation. "H-Hey! Don't speak about my lady like that! I think she's perfect just the way she is—"

"Kaori...are you just saying that because you fancy her? You know retainers aren't allowed to fraternize with their superiors~"

Kaori's face flushed as she yelled at her friend. "O-Of course not, Miwa! I'm just looking out for her l-like I'm supposed to what's wrong with that?! I do NOT fancy her!"

"She says that yet her face is redder than a Blood Moth in the middle of twilight," Emi muttered.

"Lunetta, give that back this instant! I had to a Sea Demon to get that!"

"You have to catch me first!"

Kamaria growled as she increased her; although she could not contain the smile on her face. "You cheeky lil' Lambergot!"

One of the doors quietly opened as Neona poked her head out to see what was going on. Lunetta spotted the ravenette and ran towards her.

"Sister!"

Neona grimaced as she looked down at the youngest. "What?" she answered in an annoyed tone. Lunetta flinched, but continued, "I haven't seen you for a long time. Aren't you bored being by yourself all the time? Kurage bought this toy from the Fortune Vale and I—"

"You've got to be kidding me," Neona sighed cutting Lunetta off. "I'm sorry?"

"Lunetta, you're nearly 30,000 cycles and you still act as if you're a few moons old. When are you going to start taking things seriously? Do you not see the image you've put on yourself and this family? It's shameful!"

Lunetta backed up while clutching onto the smiling doll. She bit her bottom lip to hold back a sob despite her eyes already beginning to collect mist. "You've already failed on learning the basics of your magic and your only chance of redeeming yourself would be to—"

"I just wanted to—"

"Shut your mouth!"

Lunetta sniffled as her elder sister's cold silver eyes bore into her amethyst-colored ones.

"Poor dear..." Emi whispered sadly to the others.

"You were given everything your heart desired! Now, all that pampering has made you soft. We don't have time for games and frolicking about! If you want any chance of being this nation's leader then you need to stop acting like a child!"

"That's not fair!" Lunetta cried out. "You and Kamaria get to do whatever you want. You travel to so many places and have so many people look up to you and never berate you for anything! It's not fair! Why can't you take me seriously?! I'm a princess—I'm just as important as you!"

"Then why don't you act like one?! If you want people to take you seriously then grow up! You can start by getting rid of distractions like these!"

Lunetta let out a cry of protest as her doll was forcibly ripped from her. "Nebby! Sister, give her back! Please!"

Neona's eyes narrowed at the doll, "Pay attention Lunetta, it's things like these that make you weak,"

A silver flame was lit in her other hand as she brought it towards the doll. Lunetta could only watch in horror at what was unfolding before her eyes. Before the doll could be burned to a crisp; Neona's flaming hand was engulfed by a chilling one and held in a vice grip. Kamaria's ice blue eyes burned with anger and hurt. "Sister, release me this instant," Neona said coldly while matching her sister's glare.

"Give. Her. Back,"

"Excuse me?! This thing needs to be destroyed! It's warping Lunetta's mind!"

"I believe Lunetta said her name was...Nebby,"

Kamaria flashed a small smile at her younger sister who smiled back through her tear stained face. Neona huffed, "Fine...it's not like this hand is only one I can cast magic with,"

Lunetta's blood ran cold and without thinking Kamaria's hand struck her older sister.

A loud smack echoed throughout the hallway as everyone stared at what had just transpired. Lunetta's mouth was covered in shock as her tears freefell down her cheeks. Neona was in shock as her hand shakily touched the frost that formed where she was struck. Steam erupted from that spot as she slowly turned to her sister; her eyes alighted in hatred. Kamaria was just as surprised as she glanced down at her hand. She locked eyes with Neona and saw nothing, but rage. "You DARE raise your hand at me?!" Neona shrieked as she lunged at her sister. Kamaria instinctively launched an icy blast at her sister which knocked her into the wall across the hallway; causing steam to build up as their elemental powers clashed.

Kamaria looked for her sister in the mist; silver sparks of electricity cackled a few feet away. Before she could even blink Neona charged at her. Digging her heels into the floor; Kamaria held her ground as she grappled with her sister. "This is all your fault! If you hadn't placed those idiotic paradigms into her head like now she wouldn't be so weak. But no! Every time you bend the rules for her just like how I had to sway mother to let continue your masculine escapades! Don't you see? If you keep bending the rules for her then we'll have to bend the rules for everyone! Everyone must stay in their place, Kamaria,"

"What's wrong with being different? We never had a childhood sister! Why should we deprive Lunetta of that? Why can't we let her be young and gay? She deserves it as much as we do!" Kamaria defended. "She's done nothing to deserve such freedom. All she ever does is cry and waste people's time! We're rulers Kamaria and it's time she starts acting like one!"

Emi gently took Lunetta and shielded her from the sight by tieing a piece cloth around her head. While wearing her own blindfold she led the princess away. The other servants followed suit; wearing blindfolds of their own and continuing with their duties. The fight wouldn't last long and the ghostly neigh that was heard throughout the castle would make sure of it.

"Emi...I—I didn't mean to—I just—I just—"

"Sssh...I know, I know...come now let's get you some of those sweets Inari brought from their realm,"

Lunetta sniffled as she held onto Emi's hand.

'I just wanted to play...'

....

........

..............

"Mmm..."

The sun smiled down on the young boy as she rubbed away the dots that clouded his vision. He looked around his surroundings and came to the conclusion that he fell. "How am I still alive from that?" he asked himself. "That...would be me and my now sore back," a smooth voice groaned from underneath Yoru.

"Aah! Who are you? Release me! I know...STUFF!"

The male sat up and rubbed his head, "Yoru calm down it's—OOF!"

"STRANGER DANGER! STRANGER DANGER!" Yoru yelled as he whacked the male with a random stick.

'I'm getting a sense of déjà vu...' the male thought to himself.

~Flashback~

"Cheshire, there you are!" Nebula smiled as she walked up to the male. "Looking for me?" Kyouto replied as Prism and a certain male bickered in the background. "There's someone I want you to meet," Nebula replied as she held up a heterochromatic green puppy.

"This is Branwen,"

Branwen stared at the male as her head tilted to the side. "Branwen? It's nice to meet—YEOWCH!"

"Branwen! Let go of his hand! I told you no biting!"

~

'Oh yeah...'

"Yoru, would you cease your assault? It's me Kyouto!"

That made the child stop, "well why didn't you say so?"

"Probably, because—YOU WERE ASSAULTING ME WITH THAT STICK!"

Yoru shrugged as he tossed the stick away. "Sorry, a force of habit,"

"Force of what habit? Nevermind, let's just focus on finding your mother," Kyouto sighed. "...Aren't you supposed to be dead?"

Kyouto froze but then sighed again as he smiled at the child. "Plot armor,"

"Where could've mom gone? She fell with me and Prism," Yoru wondered as he looked around the rainforest. "I know. I felt myself being separated from her and before I knew it you were falling, so I grabbed you and shielded you from harm,"

Yoru's face flushed in embarrassment, "Oh. Well, thanks for that,"

Kyouto nodded before pinching Yoru's cheeks with a cheeky smile, "You're welcome—awww is someone blushing?"

"Hey, cut it out, old man! I'm not a baby!" Yoru protested but soon smiled as his tail wagged from Kyouto scratching his ear. "You really take after your mother you know? Talk big, but you get so smitten when someone gives you attention,"

Yoru finally came to his senses and pushed Kyouto off him. "Cut it out! We have to find mom,"

"Right, but first...where are we?" Kyouto asked while observing his surroundings for the first time. "I figured you would know gramps after all you ARE a deity,"

"Well, I don't so sorry to disappoint you."

Yoru sighed and defeat as he called out for his mother. Kyouto instantly covered the boy's mouth while shushing him. "Rule #1 of surviving in an unknown world: Never make any loud sounds. We'll find your mother and we won't accomplish that goal IF we attract any trouble,"

Yoru shoved his hand off him, "like what?"

The ground rumbled underneath them as several animals of all sizes burst from the treeline and ran past them. "I told you so," Kyouto said as a feathered monster appeared. Its reptilian eyes fell on the two and growled softly. "Wait. Maybe if we stay still it won't see us. I saw this in a movie that creatures like this; their vision is based on movement," Yoru whispered.

"Really? That old fable again?! For the last time—IT ONLY WORKS IN MOVIES!" the beast roared in anger; its voice obviously feminine.

"IT CAN TALK?!"

"YOU'RE A GIRL?!"

That comment angered the creature as it charged towards the two. "How on earth does this thing know what a movie is?" Kyouto questioned. "Who cares?! Hurry up and get rid of it! If I die mom will never love you!"

"Why'd you have to go and make this personal by bringing up your mother?! No matter—I'll handle this just stay behind me,"

"Like I have an option!" Yoru replied indignantly.

....

The creature was still coming; feathers flared in excitement. "Nothing is happening!" Yoru panicked. Kyouto's brows furrowed in confusion, "that's odd something usually happens—"

"WELL, NOTHING IS HAPPENING NOW!"

Kyouto closed his eyes and spoke, "there's only one thing left to do..."

"WHAT?!" Yoru snapped as he looked up at the male; only to see him gone.

"RUN FOR IT!"

Yoru didn't hesitate as he took off running, "DID YOU SERIOUSLY JUST TRY TO LEAVE ME?!"

"SOMETIMES FEAR IS OUR GREATEST MOTIVATOR—ALSO YOU WEREN'T GOING TO LISTEN TO ME!"

The creature roared, interrupting the two's conversation. "Can't you teleport us or something?!"

Kyouto laughed humorlessly, "What do you think I've been doing this whole time?!"

"OOooh! Y'all gonna die~"

"Seriously, what is with that voice?! It sounds like some perky cheerleader at Starbucks!" Yoru yelled. Kyouto looked at him dumbfounded, "Why so specific?!"

The two continued running, but to no avail, the beast gained on them and was getting closer with each pounding step.

"We're gonna die! We're gonna dieeeee!" Yoru cried. Kyouto looked around for anything that would be useful. There were trees, trees, and more trees. "Wait! I saw this in a movie where usually jumping off a cliff usually saves the characters' lives and—"

"Right, because it worked so well last time!"

Ironically the two were running out of land as a steep cliff was coming up ahead. "Oh look! A plot device! Someone must love your wild imaginations!" Kyouto huffed. Yoru began picking up the pace, "well, it's better than nothing! If you love my mom you better jump!"

"Would you stop that?!"

The two screamed as they jumped off the edge. "I'm getting really sick and tired of this!" Yoru yelled. Soon their vision went white as they crashed into the water below.

...

......

............

Yoru awoke with a jerk. His head whipped around to see an endless sea of stars shining upon an empty field. "Where am I now?" he asked himself as he stood up. "Kyou? Are you here?... Mom are you here too?"

His voice echoed across the field. His ears drooped as he hugged himself as he tried to look for any signs of life. Sighing he turned around only to come face to face with yellow eyes. He jumped in fright and fell onto the ground. "Well, isn't this a surprise? I didn't expect you to come here for another 998 years. This is definitely unprecedented," the creature replied with a voice that seemed void of life. "Who...who ARE you?!" Yoru asked.

The creature chuckled, "do you not recognize yourself? I am you inside of you,"

"Me inside of me? Like how Kuu is in Koushiro?"

"Not quite. I'm another form of yourself, a power that lies dormant within your soul. I am it what runs in your mother's blood. However, I chose to take the form of what you cherish most; the doll you call...Astro,"

"Then what do I call you?"

The creature pondered this for a moment before answering, "You may call me...Black Rook,"

..............................................

"I'm sorry my brother is half WHAT?!" Branwen shrieked. Miyuki sighed, "You see...Nebby existed long before Prism was born. Sohalia used Prism as a vessel to keep her alive; thus making the Nebula we know now. She was or perhaps still is part of a race of creatures with supernatural powers beyond our own time. A race that came from a different planet in a different realm altogether,"

"So, you're telling me mom is an alien from another dimension? Which means technically Yoru is half alien?" Branwen asked as she tried to process everything. Miyuki nodded, "yes. They are called a different name in my homeland, but we are forbidden to mention it in this realm. Her kind is...very unhinged and dangerous,"

"Dangerous as in destroy the world with fire and lightning or destroy the world via apocalypse?"

"Hey, have you seen Infinity War?" Megan asked. "Who hasn't?" Branwen replied. "Basically, Nebs and Yoru have the capacity to not only destroy this world but our world in multiple timelines. They can legit Thanos snap Lucifer's brain to dust and blink my happy ass out of existence,"

Branwen paled.

"Don't worry—they're not the threat. Normally, her kind is very reclusive and polite. However, it's the special ones that crave for destruction and with Nebula's true self-awakening and Yoru's powers manifesting; I fear the seals we used to keep them trapped for millennia will break soon. Hence why one of the sages was reincarnated in you," Miyuki said while gazing down at her tea.

"...If the seal breaks then what?"

"They don't have their original bodies anymore so I can see them using someone as a vessel. However, I know there are certain things I'm missing..."

"So, they could be anybody right?" Megan asked. Miyuki shook her head, "no...an adult human would be too difficult for them to control. After all you humans are known for your stubbornness,"

"So, it would have to be someone around my age..." Branwen commented. "Right! Someone who they can easily gain their trust and manipulate," Miyuki replied. Megan leaned back in her seat as she pulled out her phone. "so, that narrows down our list. The only kids around here that are close to Branwen's age would be my brats, Genesis, Penny, Yui, and Senkou but then—"

Megan froze. "Umm...how many of them are there?"

"There's five of them and then their leader which makes six," Miyuki replied. Megan listed off the names while counting her fingers.

"Guys...there's six kids in our area..." Megan spoke; fear evident in her voice. Damon and Miyuki also felt a certain chill down their spine.

"Miyuki...where's the nearest one?" Branwen asked nervously. The Snow Woman gulped, "right where the Statue of Liberty is..."