"You do trust me… Right?" Sophitia asked, her big crystal eyes absorbed his.

  "What do you mean, my love?" He said, unable to fight it. He didn't want to fight it.

  "You know, you heard what Ozma and Nyu said about me," she said, looking away for a moment and then back.

  "Well, though they made some pretty convincing statements," he said, thinking for a moment before being sucked in, "it doesn't damn you in my eyes."

  "Are you sure?" she said, pcing her hand on his shoulder. Even though I may become the monster they speak of… are you sure that you trust me and have faith in me?"

  His eyes gzed over, and his body could barely contain himself, "I trust you entirely. Of course, I will be your warrior! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have gained my powers!"

  "Good. That makes me happy to hear that," she said, smiling ear to ear as she fell into his arms.

  There was no breaking the spell pced over Ezekiel. She had him wrapped around her little finger so tightly that he'd do anything she'd ask. Though her requests have been very few, besides requesting him to use his life force to remove her seal and pce it inside a spatial rift. After that, it was clear that she didn't have much use for him. The only thing that made sense was that she must be waiting for Myria to emerge.

  Ezekiel would often find her alone in the house, stroking the rge egg and whispering to it. "Please, Myria… please come out."

  And it always made him wonder. Can this st forever? Then his mind was washed over with her scent of unknown origin, the sight of her intoxicating beauty, and the feel of her unreal energy weaving through him. Inebriated, he couldn't possibly fight it, and all doubts and suspicions dissipated like dust in the wind.

  It went like this for years. Each time he would be far enough away from her, the doubts poured in. As soon as he was in her presence, he was head over heels. It was sad to witness. Like a spider, her venom penetrated him, deep to his core.

  One evening, like many others, they sat together near a shimmering pond, she was dipping her fingers into the water. "Years," she murmured. "It's been years…"

  "What is it, my love?"

  She stayed still for a moment, "Just how peaceful it has been these years…"

  "Are you becoming bored?" He said, letting out a soft chuckle.

  She chuckled softly, "No, my love, that's not what I mean."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Just that, it's been years since Myria came to be… but she's still in the egg."

  Ezekiel looked over to their home, a small house nestled within the alcove of a forested area, filled with trees of strange shapes and sizes. Little creatures scurried about. Nothing sentient but still much alive. The house's structure curved like a seashell, smooth and seamless, with arching windows that glowed softly from within. Vines with bioluminescent blossoms spiraled up its sides, their petals shifting colors in the twilight. Strange, root-like formations extended from the base, merging with the ground as the house was grown from the nd. Flowers in every hue spilled over the rooftop, their scent carried on the wind, filling the air with fresh tranquility. The vibe of their home added to the serene atmospheric condition of a world without fighting or drama.

  He thought about what was inside their home, Myria, still within the egg. It was dormant, as though it was waiting for the right moment to hatch.

  Sophitia stretched her arm out, the water dripping from her fingers onto her face and horns, "Do you think she will ever come out?"

  Ezekiel nodded, "I hope so, I hope to meet her one day."

  He envisioned a future where Myria would awaken surrounded by love, ughter, and the beauty of their new world.

  As the stars shimmered above them, Sophitia took Ezekiel's cw, squeezing it gently. "We've built something truly special here, haven't we?" she asked, her voice soft and filled with warmth.

  Ezekiel smiled, his soul swelling with love. "Yes, and it's only the beginning," he replied, determination in his eyes. "No matter what happens, I will protect this life we've created."

  "Me too."

  Days pass by, then weeks, until one day their blissful existence shattered when they returned from a tranquil evening stroll beneath the shimmering stars.

  As they approached their dwelling, they found Xiphos standing ominously before them, his malevolent form and menacing grin as he held Myria's egg aloft in a dark energy grip. His massive cymore pointed directly at it.

  Ezekiel's spines tingled with arm at the sight of the egg, which glowed faintly with potential. He was about to do a teleport strike to the creature's face, but he knew he couldn't endanger Myria so he held back. "What are you doing, Xiphos?" he demanded, his voice resonating with an intensity that echoed in the air.

  With a cruel smile, Xiphos spoke, "Is that how you welcome a dear friend!?"

  "A dear friend?" He scoffs, "You are no, dear friend!" Now put down Myria and expin yourself!" Ezekiel screeched.

  "Oh, hasty, hasty, hasty. You know that I have but one request. Return with me to the Celestia, Sophitia, or I will destroy whatever miserable creature this is that you seem so uptight about. Your choice." His words dripped with malice, and the threat loomed heavy in the air.

  "No… Sophie?" Ezekiel gnced at her sad face, "No… you can't! Grr!" He growled as he began to focus his power.

  "Ah ah ah!" Xiphos waved his sword at Myria's egg. "I know what you are capable of doing. Think you'd be fast enough? Now, come Sophitia."

  "Grr." He clenched his jaw.

  Sophitia locked eyes with Ezekiel and smiled. "Zeke… it's okay."

  "No! You can't do this!" Ezekiel shouted, a radiant swirl of energy emitted from his amulet. "There has to be another way! We can confront him together!"

  She stepped closer to him and pced her delicate hand on his chest, a big decision pressing down on her. "No, you heard him, Zeke. He will not hesitate to destroy Myria… and I need her. Okay?"

  Every sylble cut through Ezekiel like a tempest. He felt the ground beneath him shift as he let go of her hand, "You won't get away with this Xiphos. I will find you. I will destroy you."

  "Do not even think about coming for her," Xiphos warned, his aura darkening. "If you attempt to rescue her, Alpha will suffer more than it already has!"

  His rage built as he watched Sophitia walk towards the vilin. But at the same time, he felt helpless. He failed her yet again. He couldn't protect her, again. A deep sadness hit him.

  As Sophitia stood before Xiphos, she hesitated, gncing back at him one st time. "I love you, Zeke, don't worry about me. Just be with Myria."

  Ezekiel nodded, feeling as if a part of him was being torn away. Xiphos then dropped the egg as he dematerialized and vanished with Sophitia. Ezekiel instantly warped to catch Myria and cradled her delicately in his grasp. "You're safe here, Myria. I promise."

  Xiphos's words echoed through his mind about Alpha suffering more than it already had… perhaps it was time to return. To discover what was truly meant. There was no use staying in a world without his love. "Alright, Myria, you are coming with me. It's time for us to return home. But I can't just run around with you in my arms… I need to put you somewhere. Somewhere safe. And I can't just leave you here since that freak knows about you. Hmm… where… ah! I know. The Memorandia. Yeah, it has a ton of different rooms. Oh, I hope things are okay… Alright, are you ready? Let's go!" He said, teleporting with Myria to the Memorandia.

  He was astonished to see that the vessel was empty, more so than usual. "Where… is everyone?" he asked as he checked other rooms. He then checked Nyu's chamber. Empty. There was no presence at all. "I don't understand…" He then went to the portal room that would typically lead back to the Castle of Sky, but it was deactivated. "Things must be really bad down there…" He went back to a random room and found a pce for Myria to be tucked away. "Okay, you stay here. And if you hatch without me. Just stay in this room. Okay? I will be back for you. I promise!" He caressed the egg and then turned to leave. He felt a sense of dread. "Guess I have been away too long… I have a bad feeling about all this…" with deep guilt, He teleported himself down to the surface of his home world. In the outskirts of Vogoya.

  Upon his arrival back on Alpha, the air was thick with the acrid scent of death and destruction. He headed towards the town of Vogoya to see it was once again in ruins. He could also see the remains of strange insect-like creatures. He found one mostly intact, it looked rather humanoid as it was bipedal. It had wings to fly, it also had powerful back legs for extra jumping power. "What is this… thing…?" He asked himself as he poked it. It resembled a grasshopper, but, of course, he wouldn't have thought that.

  "What are these foul creatures!?" He has never seen such a creature before. Or even read anything about them. He continued to investigate the remains of Vogoya, but it never could catch a break. Then he saw a lone insect-like monster, which looked like a massive beetle, eating one of his fellow brethren alive. Sand gushing out of his body. He felt a surge of rage as he charged at it, unleashing a powerful burst of energy, but to his shock, the bug's carapace was impervious to his basic attacks. Simir to striking a mountain of iron, his energy dissipated against its hard shell. The bug turned and took a swipe with its mighty cw, but Ezekiel deftly dodged away. He quickly teleported to the fallen Alphin, grabbed him, and teleported far away from the vicious creature.

  He held the fallen Alphin, missing his leg and arm, sand spilling out of his wounds. The Alphin widened his eyes as he recognized Ezekiel. "You've returned… ugh. It's too… te for me. Go. Find Grand Elder Azul… at the castle… but…. The storm—" his eyes faded, and his vibrant color fell away, and he turned to sand, falling through his cws.

  "I'm sorry I didn't come back soon enough," a single tear of sand dropped from his eye. He stood tall and looked around. He could see numerous portal-like objects in the sky. Small objects poured out of them. "That must be where these vile creatures are coming from… I must find Father!" He quickly teleported himself to the Castle of Sky.

  However, he found himself alone in the sky. In his horror, the castle y in ruins, crumbled and lifeless on the ground, the storm was gone. All the memories of joy, training, pying with his brother and Sophitia, training with Grec, promises made – all were lost. Eaten. Destroyed.

  Ezekiel swooped down to the ground because he noticed a battle taking pce. Amid the fighting, he spotted Azul, leading a desperate defense against the insectoid invasion. Their eyes met, and Azul shouted, "Ezekiel, my boy! You've finally returned!"

  "What's happening?" Ezekiel resonated, confusion mixing with urgency. "What are these things?"

  Azul looked back grimly. "After you left…things were quiet. Too quiet. Then the Demontian leader, Xiphos, asked for Sophie. But when we said we didn't have her, he became angry and unleashed these… horrors upon us. He said, 'Bring back Sophitia or the Ixion swarm will never relent.' They have been pouring out of portals in the sky since! Though they're not invincible, there are too many of them—each time we kill one, more take their pce.

  "What of the Essences? I saw that Nyu was not in the Memorandia!"

  "The Essences abandoned us. Can you believe that?!" He let out a weary sigh before his expression softened. "But Zekey, I sure am gd to see— Look out!"

  A massive praying mantis Ixion approached. Azul targeted the creature, flipped it over, and smashed its underbody, killing it instantly. "This is their only weakness! If only Ozzie were here, we'd turn this tide… but you being here is just as good!." Azul fought off another Ixion, his determination unwavering. "We need you in this fight!"

  "Where is Ozzie???"

  Azul shrugged. "He never returned when he left for the Memorandia that day."

  Ezekiel was dumbfounded. Azul doesn't know of my betrayal? He knew he had to act swiftly. He decided that his best course of action would be to find Ozma. If he would have him, that is.

  "Father, I will find him!"

  "Forget it, Zeke! We have a war to fight my son, come, fight with us. To a glorious death!" Azul called out as he darted over to a group of Ixion antlions. And began to rip their mandibles from their faces.

  Ezekiel couldn't help but think of his brother. "Think… where would Ozma be… why would he not be here helping his kin after being so determined to keep the Alphins safe… it's not like him to disappear like this!" Ezekiel thought and thought about where Ozma could be. But with no hint or clue. It would be impossible. Time was running out.

  The battle raged on. And another bug targeted him. He warped himself under the gargantuan beast and teleported it up into the air as he barraged the soft underbelly with searing fmes and a bck hole strike that tore its insides out. The creature screeched as it plummeted to the ground and shattered into pieces. "Great one down, thousands more to go." He couldn't go on like this even though his pnet was being devoured, Sophitia was Still in the grasp of her captors.

  More and more of the massive Ixions poured out of the portals in the sky. The Alphin forces couldn't take much more. Even the elementals struggled to fight back the massive creatures that were powerful enough to break their jewelry. "Ozzzzzma!!!! Where are you!?!?" He screamed as he fought off dozens more of the hulking Ixion monsters.

  Suddenly.

  Time had stopped.

  But only for everything around Ezekiel. The bugs didn't move. The fighting Alphins also didn't move. It was just Ezekiel. "Huh???" He walked around the frozen bug. And poked it. "Ozma… if you can hear me…"

  "I can hear you," Ozma said from behind him. "It's been a long time brother… or should I say, traitor."

  His words like knives, Ezekiel's face plummeted, "Oz… I'm sorry for all this…"

  Ozma stood defiantly. "Hmmph. As if your apology is even worth listening to. Why did you even come back…? You had forsaken us all."

  Ezekiel reared back, "You know I couldn't leave her… but as it happens you didn't say anything or return… why?"

  Ozma smirked, "Why, indeed. I suppose you won that fight. But it's not like I didn't come back…"

  "Alright, I'll accept that. So what happened…? Azul told me that you never came back, why? With your power, those bugs would be dead in seconds…"

  He hung his head. "I tried Zeke. I can only hold time for so long. I've tried to save our world so many times, but the bugs keep coming… and eventually, the entire world is destroyed."

  "Huh?"

  "I have been fighting these damned creatures for a very long time. But I keep having to rewind and come back. They're coming from somewhere that I cannot reach. Not even with my power. But in the end, it doesn't matter. The entire world is ultimately destroyed by the Demontians. I can't reach them to stop it."

  "How do the Demontians do it!?"

  "They use a spectacur weapon, it can destroy entire pnets in a single ray of unknown energy. You remember it, right? The Void Ray." Ozma expined.

  "Sophie…" he hung his head in shame.

  Ozma nodded, "Yes, I can see that they have her. They intend to use her."

  Ezekiel growled, "Then that means… Xiphos went against his word. Brother, we must hurry!"

  "What's the point… all is lost."

  "We must try!"

  "Zeke, we were used. We were used by the Xerodians and by Sophie. Don't you understand that?!" He said with a solemn look on his face. "The Xerodians just wanted us to fight their battles. And then once they found that we were not able… they left. And then Sophie… you already know how I feel! But what does it matter?" He looked around at the destruction and looked defeated, "I have all this power but am completely powerless."

  "Oz… it's not true." Ezekiel pleaded, "You're not powerless. Let's fight together! You and me!"

  "I have seen this moment py out a thousand times. It doesn't end well no matter how much or little I try to influence decisions!" He stopped for a moment. "I know what you are going to say–"

  "Sophie. If we can get her back. Then Alpha won't have to be destroyed!"

  "I see… so… you must have a pn, and it involves me." Ozma smiled subtly.

  Nodding excitedly, "Yes brother, I need your help."

  Ozma sighed, "Fine, it's not like I can argue against you anyway, even with my ability to see ahead of you." He sighed, "I suppose I will do this for you brother, again, just so you can see how folly it is."

  "I'm so gd you still call me brother!" Ezekiel smiled ear to ear.

  Ozma let out a weak smile, "so what is your pn?"

  He froze, for he didn't have a solid pn. Just run in head first and see what happens. "Well, uh, we combine our power and um… I guess I didn't think too far ahead," he said sheepishly.

  Ozma smiled, "I am always the brains of our operations."

  "Indeed brother…" he said happily and with utter confidence in his brother's abilities.

  "Okay, so, if we want any chance at all. We must first find the other elementals, elders, and survivors and take them to the Memorandia. That will keep our race from going extinct by the Demontian weapon. Then, we can teleport aboard the Celestia to save Sophitia. Sound good?" Ozma expined.

  Ezekiel smiled brightly, "That is… a very specific pn. But I think we can stop it entirely! Don't you see that?"

  "No, our world is doomed to be destroyed."

  "Let me guess, It has already been tried?"

  "You catch on. Yes, I did see it happen. We get the Alphins and take them to Memorandia. Then we go to Celestia but Xiphos is there. He kills us and destroys our world."

  "But how? Surely there is some kind of fw or weakness."

  "I believe it has something to do with the Celestia. And he somehow expects us, each time. No matter what angle we take. Even with our powers combined, the result is the same."

  Ezekiel shook his head, "I can't accept that Ozma. We must be able to do something!"

  He let out a sigh, "I can create loops of time, in the inevitable case that we fail, we can return and try again. Just so you can see." He hung his head shamefully.

  He pced his cw on his brother's shoulder, "We'll just take it… little by little."

  Ozma nodded happily, "I… suppose I'll accept that."

  "You sure have matured, Oz." Ezekiel nodded pridefully.

  "Time will do that to you," he shrugged.

  "As for these bugs. Why don't we just wipe them out right now?"

  "With pleasure!"

  With time still frozen, Ezekiel teleported to each of the Ixions in the immediate area and began ripping their entrails out one by one. Time resumed, and the bugs dropped dead. The other Alphins stopped and looked around with confusion. Then they saw that Ezekiel and Ozma were together.

  Azul came running, "Ozma!? You've come! Praise be to you!"

  "Hello Father," Ozma said softly.

  "What is going on?" He looked into his son's eyes.

  The brothers shared a gnce and returned, "There is only one course of action now. We have a pn. But we need to board the Memorandia." Ozma expined.

  "I see…" Azul turned, watching his world slowly being devoured by the grotesque Ixions. There wasn't anything left to save. "Alphin brothers and sisters! Come to me. There is a new pn!"

  The remaining troops came running and stood near their Grand Elder. Azul nodded to Ezekiel and Ozma.

  "We are leaving this doomed world. And we are going to board the Memorandia." Ezekiel decred firmly.

  The Alphin warriors looked around, "but what of our home? The others?"

  "It's lost." Ezekiel said grimly, "We will take you to the Memorandia and then return to gather the others that we can find."

  "But now that Oz is here… surely we have a better chance?"

  Ozma stepped forward, "I've seen this py out a thousand times. It will never end and in the end, our world is obliterated. This is the only way to keep from going extinct!"

  Reluctantly, the Alphins agreed. Ezekiel created the wormhole, and they disappeared from the chaos. They then reappeared aboard the Memorandia.

  "Quick. We must return to the surface to get the others and hope that they're still alive!" Ezekiel stated with haste.

  Ozma nodded, "They still live. I can see them, but we must make haste."

  "What about this pn of yours?" Azul asked curiously.

  "Right now, we're evacuating this world. The Demontians have Sophie, and they're on their way to destroy our world!" Ezekiel expined.

  "I see. Will there be a Glorious battle?"

  "Most likely. But it is aboard a ship simir to the Memorandia…"

  "Ah, so you wish to take the fight to them directly?" Azul inquired.

  "Yes… but…" Ozma hung his head, he could not see past a certain point.

  Azul could take a hint, "I see… so it may be a suicide mission…"

  Ozma nodded sadly, "Yes. Father. I see in one instance, we took the fight to them. Everyone was sughtered."

  "I see… so you wish to do what you can."

  "We'll succeed!" Ezekiel said with confidence. "We'll find a way and rescue Sophie and the world won't be destroyed!"

  "It is good to always have a contingency, thank you, my sons. As, allow me to come with you to gather the others."

  "That makes sense, they cannot possibly deny their Grand Elder." Ezekiel nodded.

  "Indeed!" Azul concurred. "Well, why are we standing around here? Let's move!" he roared with such valor.

  Together, they returned to Alpha. At the Volcano, the fire elder, Rave, burned hundreds of the Ixion creatures in raging infernos.

  "Rave!" Azul called out.

  His fiery eyes turned to him, "Grand Elder Azul! Have you come to assist in this effort!?"

  "No, we are leaving this world. Come with us and your kin aboard the Memorandia."

  "Hmm… I see. We retreat in cowardice then!?" Rave roared, and the fmes around him intensified.

  "Not cowardice," Azul reassures, "Ozma foresees that our world is destroyed by the Demontian's weapon. So they are taking the fight to them."

  "Glorious!' He shouted as he came running, calling back to the remaining Elementals and Alphin warriors. Everyone gathered together and quickly teleported away to the Memorandia. Everyone dropped off and accounted for, they then teleported to the Ice Castle.

  Alda was busy freezing the Ixions and dashing them to pieces.

  Azul called to her, "Come with us. This world is doomed. But we have a pn!"

  She smiled and immediately joined. "Everyone! Together we will join cws. This battle may be lost, but there is still hope!" There were no compints, so they gathered together, teleported to the Memorandia, and then down to the Ergus tree.

  Lord Alvos crushed the creatures with mighty stone fists. He also impaled them repeatedly with mighty tree javelins that stabbed straight through the ground. Noxious acidic fumes spread forth, melting the creatures.

  "Lord Alvos!" Azul called. "Come with any that has survived. We have a new pn. No longer will we fight for this doomed world!"

  "Ah, indeed. Right when I was beginning to enjoy myself."

  "Haha, don't worry my friend. You will have more time to come!" Azul called back.

  "Truly? Ok. Come my Alphin brothers and sisters! To the grand elder!" He shouted, compelling the survivors to flock to him. A quick teleport ter and back down, they were now looking for Jakka and a wind Elder.

  They were in the sky shredding apart various flying Ixions, joined by other Alphin warriors. The troop rained the Ixions' innards and broken carapaces to the ground. They were trying a head-on approach with the portals. Unfortunately, they were quickly becoming overwhelmed by the undying Ixion force of staggering numbers.

  Jakka with his energy powers bsted Ixions to bits with lightning bolts. He then charged towards them like lightning and struck with thunder at their softer underbellies.

  Jospa was able to create tornadoes that tore through the Ixions' hides like pieces of paper. Leaving nothing but little bug bits twirling around.

  "Jakka! Jospa! Come hither! We are leaving this world behind! Come with us to the Memorandia. A new reckoning is at hand!" Azul beckoned.

  "Alright, that's what I like to hear," Jakka said, speeding towards them like a lightning bolt.

  Jospa floated towards them, "Aw… can't I kill just a few more!?"

  "There is little time for that. We must go to the Memorandia with haste. My sons have a pn to turn the tide!" Azul replied.

  "But if we all band together, surely we'd be wiped out… right?" Jospa inquired.

  "No. That is not so. The Memorandia is a ship beyond our reality and will protect us from our enemies!" Ozma expined.

  Jospa sighed, "Fine… let's go."

  And with that, they gathered together and teleported the troops aboard the Memorandia.

  They looked around at the paltry numbers. Though there were many, it was a far cry lower than their booming popution once was.

  "So much destruction…" Azul said sadly. "All for one individual…?"

  "Yes, Sophie is a being of immense destructive power. That's why they have her…" Ezekiel said with a somber tone.

  "Bah! hostage takers. Despicable vermin!" Azul shook a fist. "Well, we can't let that be!"

  "I, for one, would love to sever more of their ghastly heads!" Jakka said with a tearing motion of his cws.

  Ozma shook his head, "If we all go, then we will be wiped out. It must just be the two of us. Sorry, Jakka. I know you were looking forward to the decapitations."

  Jakka hung his head in sadness, he truly did love ripping heads off of things.

  "We'd better go if we hope to stop them from destroying our world," Ezekiel commented.

  "Yes, good thinking. Both of you. May the essences… I mean… may you have the greatest of luck!" Azul said, quickly correcting himself after knowing the truth about the precious creators they once revered.

  "Now that everyone is safe on board the Memorandia, our next phase can commence," Ozma said.

  The Alphins on board were boisterous but happy to be safe and sound.

  "I think I can finally get some sleep," one of them said.

  Azul turned to the brothers. "Anything you want me to do, my sons?"

  "We're going to save Sophie." Ezekiel began, "Take the Memorandia somewhere far away from here." He then turned back to the Alphins as they looked at him with pride. "We will return victorious," he added, "we will avenge our fallen brethren! For Alpha!"

  "For alpha!!!" The crowd screamed.

  "Alright, Ozma, are you ready?" Ezekiel asked.

  He nodded, "Ready as I'll ever be. You'll need to do the teleport to the Celestia."

  "Ok." He said as he began to focus his mind, "Hmm… I don't see them… anywhere…"

  "Try searching for the Subnet…"

  "The Subnet?"

  "It's a hidden realm that flows under ours…"

  "Under?!" Ezekiel was shocked by this and by the fact that Ozma knew about it.

  "Yes… it is a pce that I can only fathom is not made for you and me. It is how they came to our world, I believe."

  "The Subnet… alright… let me see…" he tried hard to concentrate on it but as it eluded him.

  Ozma, sensing the struggle, approached, "Hmm, brother… I think with my vision of time – if we combine our abilities. We can use it to find the Subnet and thus the Celestia."

  "Ok… let us try…"

  The brothers pced their hands together. And combined their powers.

  "Let's see…" Ozma focused his power.

  A brilliant formation appeared, vast, deep, violent, "What… is this pce!?"

  "The Subnet… it's quite an immacute thing. It binds the existence of all worlds, and universes, it's the nexus between them."

  "Huh… how?"

  "I do not completely know how it works. It is beyond my ability. But I have spent an eternity trying to figure it out."

  "What? I don't understand how you have spent an eternity when we've been together this whole time. Expin! Please?"

  "It's okay brother. Pendulum elementals work in strange ways. Maybe one day you'll understand but now is not the time. C'mon, let's keep focused. Sophie cannot be left with them, right? As much as I despise her…"

  "I… no, you're right. Thank you… Oz." Ezekiel added, dismissing the fact that she is despised.

  "Yeah, whatever!" He waved him off.

  They were able to see through the Subnet and locate the Celestia.

  "There… look!" Ezekiel stated, trying to peer inside.

  Then he penetrated it.

  "Okay. Let's do this!" Ezekiel focused and pced them inside the Celestia where they now faced a massive Ornate door at the end of a pristine white corridor.

  "Is this the right pce?" Ozma asked.

  "I believe so. Wow, It does look simir to the Memorandia." Ezekiel remarked.

  "Yeah, the floor reacts to my feet and the walls make me feel like I'm being watched." Ozma shuddered.

  "Eze…Kiel… why… did you… come for… me." A shallow voice behind the door called.

  Ezekiel's ears perked up, "Did you hear that? Sophie!? Sophie! Are you behind this door!?" He pushed the door and banged on it, but it wouldn't open. "Hang on, brother." He grabbed his brother's cw, and they teleported into the room… a foolhardy move.

  Sophitia was chained up to a grand machine. She writhed helplessly in her chains. Ezekiel approached his love, he could see that she had been beaten, and he could barely recognize her.

  "What… what did they do to you, my love!?" Ezekiel knelt and touched her cracked face.

  "Zeke… why are you here? I told you to stay… with Myria"

  "Don't worry about Myria! We've come to rescue you!"

  "Is Myria who I think she is?" Ozma asked.

  He hung his head, unsure if he wanted to speak the truth, but he knew Ozma would know regardless so it might as well be honorable. "She's a being that was within Sophie. It was her seal I think… I don't know. I guess you could say she is our daughter."

  "I see," Ozma turned his head to conceal his displeasure.

  "Let's get you out of these chains."

  He tried to pull the chains apart, but they were made of a strange metal material that seemed to be stronger than Xero. He was about to teleport her out of the chains but…

  Their arrival did not go unnoticed.

  Xiphos stepped from behind the massive machine, his bck horns spiked upward like wicked shadows. His face was a mask of cold satisfaction as he surveyed the intruders. His massive cymore glinted, indicating its sharpness.

  "Ah, Ezekiel. And Ozma. So gd of you to intrude. We were just on our way to Alpha. What a rude interruption." Xiphos smiled viciously.

  "We've come to take back Sophie! Let her go, you coward! How dare you treat her like this!?" Ezekiel screeched.

  "How dare I!? Hmmph. She is our property. We can do as we please! You are the ones that kept her from us!"

  Rage built within him, "She is not property! She is a person. With thoughts and feelings, a life of her own!"

  "Hahahaha! A person!? Oh, Sophitia, what lies have you been feeding these pathetic creatures."

  Ezekiel gred. "It's not lies. She belongs home with us!"

  "Too bad for you. She is our weapon and will carry out our demands as we deem fit. We do not need the likes of you so be gone, and if you go now, I might change my mind about your world!"

  Ezekiel stood firm, "I know your pn Xiphos! You were never going to allow us to live!" his energy was coursing through his body.

  His words angered Xiphos. He became calm. "Fine, yes, you are right. I was going to test our weapon on your pathetic little pnet, seeing as you are nothing more but little thieves!"

  "Ezekiel… Ozma… please… you must keep Myria safe. I don't want to do what they're about to make me do… please. I beg of you!" Sophitia pleaded.

  Xiphos stepped around the brothers toward Sophitia. "Drop this damsel in distress act you foolish tool!" He screamed at her as he was about to strike her.

  Ezekiel let out a screech," NO!" He teleported behind Xiphos and attempted to grab him but the creep spun around with his sword to his face.

  Time stopped. Then he was back outside the Ornate door again.

  "What!?"

  "Sorry brother… That would have ended… unsatisfactorily."

  "What do you mean?"

  "It would have become your demise, brother."

  "But… Sophie is in there!"

  Ozma rolled his eyes, "That's the problem… you don't think before you act. You just charge in there. And then things go south. Just like they have a thousand times!"

  "Ok… then what do we do?" Ezekiel growled.

  "We must allow them to destroy our world…"

  "Ok… so… we just go in without alerting them to our idea!"

  "Well, no, that's not what I–" Ozma started.

  "Ok. Let's try again." He said as he warped inside the room. This time keeping a watchful eye.

  The same event pyed out. Xiphos once again steps away from behind the machine. Ezekiel loses his temper, and he is almost struck down. They return to the door.

  "Ugh!"

  "Told you, brother. It's folly…"

  "No! I won't give up on her!"

  He tried again, this time he warped to where Xiphos was. But the Demontian was able to react and came close to impaling him. All the while Ozma ughed at his ridiculousness.

  "Brother… are you… enjoying yourself!? Not once have I seen you help!"

  "Oh, dear brother. Don't you get it? This is all part of the illusion."

  "What illusion…?"

  "That we were ever in control of our fate."

  "Well, I don't believe that!" He snarled.

  "Hehe… why don't you make yourself comfortable and watch how it truly should transpire."

  Ozma used his Pendulum powers to warp time. In this sequence, they entered the room invisible by the shroud of the warp. Sophitia was chained to the machine. It did not look comfortable.

  Xiphos eventually showed himself, snickering, "Thought you said they'd be here… looks like you were wrong. Hmmph. Anyway, it is time for our little… test. Since you said you can do it without the seal."

  "I assure you. I can. Now can we please get on with it?"

  With an elegant yet threatening gesture, he raised his sword, the edge of the bde aimed toward a wall which then opened silently. The opening looked like it had teeth. It was the mouth of Celestia. The brothers could see their blue-green disc world of Alpha.

  "Sorry Zeke, but I must do this," she whispered. Ezekiel watched as she controlled the machine. It whirred with an increasing intensity of unknown energy. Then the void ray was fired by Sophitia's command. The void power shot forth in a beam as bck as night, a nce of destruction that struck Alpha with pinpoint precision.

  Like Dante's world. Alpha suffered the same fate. The once beautiful pnet turned into dust. The Celestia breathed in that dust and pulled it toward its open maw. Again, another testament to the mysterious power of Sophitia.

  Ozma looked on, unfazed by it all. He's seen it before. A thousand times.

  Ezekiel's fists shook with the effort to break free of Ozma's time warp, to do anything—but his power was much stronger than ever. Some kind of restraints rendered his power useless. He could only watch with helpless rage, his teleportation abilities locked under the spell. He could do nothing but watch the horror unfold, forced to witness the destruction of his home and the unimaginable suffering that he assumed Sophitia endured. But then he noticed…

  She was smiling.

  "See… the illusion of your precious love?"

  "But… why?"

  "Why else? She wanted this. She wanted to be this… strange puppet. But that's not how this ends. It's not over yet!"

  Piece by piece, Alpha's remains spiraled into Celestia's waiting jaws, disappearing as each fragment of their world was swallowed whole. Every soul, every dream, everything they had ever loved was drawn into oblivion, at least… what was left of it. Ezekiel did feel a slight sense of relief knowing many of his brethren were safe on the Memorandia but still shaken by the mindless destruction of their world.

  Sophitia was satisfied by what she had done—what she had been 'forced' to do. Ezekiel could feel the energy of Alpha lingering around, a faint echo of life that had been obliterated, searing. Xiphos's cruel ughter filled the silence as he looked down at her, his menacing smile full of triumph.

  "You are exactly what you were made to be. Excellent work. Hehehe!" He chuckled as Alpha's light disappeared into the Celestia's mouth.

  Then, the ship reacted. It groaned as though it felt indigestion. Xiphos held out his cws, and in his palm, the devoured energy formed into the familiar blue orb, a module. It pulsated beautifully and silently. Beckoning immense power.

  Time stopped and focus remained on the module in Xiphos's gnarled hand.

  "Don't you see brother…"

  Ezekiel felt destroyed inside. Anger. Betrayal. "Yeah… I see now. I'm sorry for doubting you. It's something about her. She has a way with her words and her energy. But, honestly, what do we do?"

  "Well. We can't let them keep doing this. And we can't let her know we're on to her little tricks. We'll keep going. As if everything is as it should be… trust me."

  "Yes, Ozma… I'll trust you, my brother."