There is a pregnant pause within the Great Iarlan Mines in the wake of Armolos’ sudden death. Just outside of the mines on the Storm Bryx steamship is a crew of lowlife onlookers observing the dissipating cinders that make up what was their old captain.

Loc fails to hide an impressed face as he slowly lifts up his goggles. He looks down and examines the Steam Buster, the deadly and outstanding piece of ingenuity responsible for the hard earned win of the day.

Loc: (Gidget, you cooked up a real monster this time.)

Everyone who wasn’t already standing slowly rises to their feet, their mouths still gaped. Lightning approaches the other Veguhls.

Gust: His, His Majesty slew Master Armolos.

Zephyr: Did you sense the intensity in His Majesty’s vyrkra?

Lightning: I’ve never sensed such a pure and potent attack before.

Squall: But how can that be? On a scale of magnitude that attack was rather, lacking, to say the least. But it was so pure and concentrated.

Lightning: Perhaps it was the true power of the Witch Tier we just witnessed.

Bolt continues to look on at the dissipating cinders and clenches his fists in frustration. Lightning approaches him.

Lightning: Brother, are you well?

Bolt doesn’t answer.

Lightning: Bolt?

Bolt sighs and loosens up. He turns and heads to the inner tunnels.

Bolt: I am well Lightning.

Lightning and the other Yhol-Yins watch him leave with concerned looks.

Rivna storms over to Loc.

Rivna: Captain! Why? Why did you kill him?

Loc looks like he’s at a lost for words. He gestures to the Steam Buster while failing to mask a chuckle.

Loc: I didn’t know this thing would blow him into oblivion.

Rivna: What do you mean?! You used your strongest Vyrkra Art against him! You haven't displayed such power since Daagon!

Loc: Gidget must have worked some kind of magic to make this thing so damn powerful. I wasn’t trying to kill our foe. Truthfully, I didn’t even think it would be enough to wound him.

Rivna: Then why is he dead?!

Loc firms his stance.

Loc: Now look Rivna, I told you I didn’t foresee this.

Rivna retracts from his sternness. She turns and kicks the dirt with a bitter grunt of frustration. Hannah skips over to them.

Hannah: That was stupendous, Big Brother! Your flames were nearly as bright as mine! How did you do it? I only wish you hadn’t overcooked the dumb bird so we can savor this victory with a fitting meal--

Hannah suddenly gasps and halts. Loc and Rivna each raise an eyebrow.

Loc: Something amiss?

A round oval ring of fire appears before Hannah. Within the oval appears to be a sea of stars. A small monkey on fire that’s wearing a top hat and wielding a cane strolls through the ring and bows before Hannah.

Hannah: Mister Oswald?!

Everyone in the room except for Loc and Hannah appears to be taken aback by his appearance. Oswald reveals a horrifically creepy smile. He has a deep, raspy, and sinister voice.

Oswald: I believe you already know why I’m here, Great Princess.

Hannah pouts. Oswald bows to Loc.

Oswald: Good day, Master Loc.

Loc ignores him.

Hannah: Why does Mother always summon me when I’m having fun? I didn’t even do anything wrong this time.

Rivna: Not yet for today perhaps. Hopefully it’s to keep you from burdening our noble campaign.

Hannah: Pray I don’t return with permission to alleviate myself of a certain long-toothed, pointy eared burden.

Hannah sticks her tongue out at Rivna while materializing on her beautiful royal attire. She steps before the door and looks back at Loc with a smile.

Hannah: Don’t do anything too adventuresome while I’m away, Big Brother. Or I’ll be upset.

Oswald: Come, come, Great Princess. The Queen of Queens is not one to be kept waiting.

Hannah: I know, I know.

Everyone watches them disappear into the ring in awe. After a moment it itself fizzles off into vapor. Rivna sighs in relief.

Rivna: And good riddance.

Loc: Don’t get too comfortable. She’ll be back.

Rivna: Hopefully by then we’ll possess the strength to make her next visit a brief one.

Smoke approaches them.

Smoke: I for one don’t mind the little rascal. Having the extra firepower around can’t hurt in situations like this.

Loc gives Smoke an incredulous look.

Loc: What rock did you just crawl out of? We sure could have used your help back there.

Smoke: I saw it.

Loc: And you did nothing?

Rivna: Wait, Captain. He did intervene, and at a critical moment.

Smoke: Why thank you sugar. You see? I was involved. Remember kid, my job is to keep you alive, not fight your battles for you.

Loc lets out a sigh. Smoke takes a puff of his steam cigar and blows it at Rivna. Rivna coughs and angrily turns to Smoke.

Rivna: I told you to quit doing that!

Smoke smiles.

----------------------------------------------------------

The great Temple of Apollyce is a futuristic and mechanical grand structure that floats high within the mesosphere of Irikihl. Standing guard in front of the temple are two one thousand foot tall Heavetese holding ever burning spears.

Within the godlike structure is a magnificent open throne room that reveals the beautiful surroundings of space and the Earth-like planet below. Hologram screens revealing different locations of Irikihl line the upper walls of the throne room.

Hrist is the first to arrive, entering through an oval portal and stands before an oversized throne. With a brief moment to herself she looks up at the awesome sight and takes in a deep breath. She reveals a warm and satisfied smile.

Hrist: A sight that never grows weary.

Heldine and Helga enter together from the same portal. Helga sighs at the sight of Hrist and adjusts her glasses. Hrist quickly adopts a pompous and stern stance upon noticing them.

Helga: I thought we would be first since we were already on our way here during the summon, but what a surprise, Hrist beats us to Mother anyway.

Heldine: Well that is why she’s the next in line to be the Queen of Queens. You have to be as stiff as these stone walls for anybody to take you seriously as a ruler.

Hrist clears her throat.

Hrist: Is this really the proper way to greet the next Queen of Queens?

Heldine runs over and bear hugs Hrist, catching her off guard.

Heldine: Aw Big Sis, if all you wanted was a little affection then you should’ve just been open about it.

She lifts Hrist’s feet off the ground and swings her around in glee.

Hrist: Heldine! Would you please--

Helga giggles. Hannah and Oswald enter.

Hannah: I didn’t know half the family would be here. Are all you guys in trouble too?

Heldine: Hey Hannah, come and show Hrist how much you love her.

Hannah: Huh?

Hannah giggles and runs over to them.

Hannah: You better put Hrist down Heldine, or she’ll get really angry.

Helga: She’s always angry…

Hrist: Heldine if you don’t put me down this instant--

Heldine: Don’t worry Big Sis. This is for your own good. I’m gonna squeeze all that stiffness out of you.

Hrist: (Why can’t I free myself? I don’t recall Heldine ever being this powerful.)

Heldine nuzzles her face against Hrist.

Heldine: Just say you love me too and I’ll let you go.

Hrist: Heldine!

Heldine speaks in a scary tone.

Heldine: Say it!

Hrist bottle up her bitterness. And reluctantly speaks--

Hrist: I killed Loc.

Heldine gasps and lets her go. Hrist gasps for air.

Heldine: You didn’t!

Hrist bashes Heldine on the head.

Hrist: Of course I didn’t! Not yet at least.

Heldine holds her head.

Heldine: Ow…

Hannah chuckles.

Hannah: I told you!

Hrist reveals a subtle smile.

Hrist: Heldine, I love you too.

Heldine smiles.

Hrist: But do that again and I really will kill him.

Heldine sticks her tongue out at Hrist as she turns away.

Helga: I haven’t seen this much affection in the family since Heldine was Hannah’s size.

Hrist affectionately pats Hannah on the head as she approaches the base of the throne.

Helda flies into the temple from deep space with a charred body. Everyone watches her quizzically as her body quickly heals and a beautiful regal gown is materialized over it. She looks pissed.

Helda: If you ask, you die.

Heldine and Hannah shrug their shoulders at each other.

Heldine: Wait a minute, Helda is here but where are our favorite twins?

Helga: And the lazy one?

Hrist: Mother gave special orders to them, so they won’t be joining us today.

Oswald runs to the base of the throne and jumps up and down repeatedly.

Oswald: Her Majesty is here! Her Majesty is here!

Hannah: It’s Mother!

Each of the girls quickly move to the base of the throne and gracefully bow down before it. After a long pause the palace rumbles and a swirling inferno enters from an opening in the ceiling and travels to the throne. Torches alight along the walls of the temple.

The inferno forms into a twelve story tall woman on fire. She looks down at the princesses with a heartwarming smile.

Queen of Queens: Ah, what a delight to my eyes.

Hannah: Why aren’t you here in person, Mother?

Hrist: Hannah! Do not speak unless spoken to!

Hannah quickly covers her mouth in guilt.

Hannah: P-Please forgive.

Queen of Queens: Do not be so hard on your sister Hrist. Forget not that there was once a time when you too longed for the warmth of your mother’s bosom. In fact you clung to my side the longest out of all of your sisters.

The other princesses snicker as Hrist tries to hide her embarrassment. The Queen of Queens chortles.

Queen of Queens: I pray you are not so rugged with your siblings once I pass on my mantle.

Hrist: Forgive me Mother. It appears I still have much to learn to even mirror a fraction of your elegance.

Queen of Queens: You mustn’t be so hard on yourself either, Hrist. It is imperative humanity can place their faith in you, and see you as a benevolent ruler. Remember my beautiful daughters, we are all goddesses. And as goddesses our strength is measured by the faith humanity places in us. For we are humanity’s final hope.

Hannah: So then why does Big Brother wish to dethrone you so badly, Mother?

Queen of Queens: Little Loc is foolish and believes eternal peace can be achieved through mere violence. However he will soon learn the futility of his barbaric ways.

Helga: Him and his ilk are incapable of possessing such understanding. Perhaps fate allowed his mother to conceive him for the sole purpose of reminding us true gods why our rulership is so vital to Irikihl.

Queen of Queens: Indeed Helga.

Hannah: I know Loc is adopted but what makes him so different than us? He’s nothing like those dirty Innokians. Isn’t he?

Hrist: You must understand Hannah that Loc and his kind are not human. The Arcane may appear human like us on the surface, but they are vastly different. True, our bodies are made from the dust of the ground, but there is a clear distinction in the vyrkra that operates the vessel.

Hannah: I don’t understand Big Sis.

Helga: Just understand that they are Celestial dogs, Hannah. Hence why even their own maker abandoned them not long after the planet’s creation.

Heldine: That doesn’t mean they can’t be taught to serve for the betterment of humanity. My Loc may be seeking peace the wrong way, but he’s still seeking peace.

Queen of Queens: To seek peace for humanity would mean to pluck away our sovereignty, Heldine. And that boy seeks vengeance, not peace. There is no benevolence in his heart. No matter how much patience and love I show him he continues to prove to me that his kind is unlovable.

Helga: Love should be reserved for humanity, not for the Celestials or the Innokians.

Hannah: I know the Innokians are ugly, and mean, and inept, but why do we disregard them like we do the Celestials. In fact they don’t seem nearly as threatening as the Celestials, but we place such strict laws on their rights.

Hrist: The Innokians are merely sentient beasts. If left unchained they would wreak havoc upon mortals like they did once before.

Hannah: Once before?

Heldine smiles at Hannah.

Heldine: I forgot we haven’t taught Hannah what times were like before Mother’s rulership.

Queen of Queens: Long ago, after the fall of the Celestials and before humankind claimed it’s rightful place as its current rulers, the Innokians enslaved humanity. Due to their innate physical and vyrkrial superiority they took full advantage of it and forced us into hard labor for thousands of years.

Helga: Only recently has mankind found a way to obtain the power to put the Innokians in their proper place. Us goddesses have a duty to maintain this balance so that we may never again experience the horrors and atrocities our ancestors had to endure.

Hrist: Mother has shown considerable mercy just by allowing the Innokians to live. If judgement fell upon me to pass they would be nothing but a heinous memory.

Helda: I for one am fully glad Mother kept them around. All of their inherent strength and fortitude has made them perfectly fit for servitude. And they are far more docile than those filthy Massadans.

Queen of Queens: It has been quite evident throughout history that the Innokians were never equipped to govern properly. The Celestials at one time possessed the power to keep them in line, as they were created solely to serve them. But now that the Innokians serve a different master they’ve been all too desperate to replace them. Emboldened by the awakening of the Witch Tier many of them have begun to rally under the false pretense of aiding the Celestials. When in truth they intend to rid the world of them and revert it back to humanity’s darkest days.

The Queen of Queens pauses.

Queen of Queens: Oh fair and illustrious daughters of mine. I have summoned you all here today because there is a great and urgent matter at hand. Humanity’s old enemies have reawakened.

Hannah: Old enemies?

Queen of Queens: The Aeons.

----------------------------------------------------------

It’s a beautiful bright sunny day in the tranquil floating waterfall islands of La’Narsh, located in the region of Lyrkru.

Gahldra, an old and bearded Lyrkrian Ohgahnian, guides two other Ohgahnians out of the recesses of a grand jungle to a plateau that overlooks a floating valley. One of the Ohgahnians is Ziikah, a female Lyrkrian Ohgahnian, and the other is Aldrog. Ziikah and Aldrog appear to be wowed by what they see beyond the valley; the remains of a crystallized serpentine dragon that is approximately three miles in length. It appears as majesty as its serene surroundings.

Gahldra: There the Great One lies. The king of the dragons; the mighty Aeon, Bahamut.

Chapter End