A YEAR LATER

Sky walked out of the base, looking back at it with some slight amazement. He had to hand it to True. Even though it had been six months, the base had yet to lose it's charm. It was about five stories tall, and it held a dining room and kitchen on the bottom floor, along with a training hall and a gym that had some parkour courses for Deadlox's Dead Army. On the second floor was a lab for True's Stars, and with some public bathrooms scattered here and there, there were many dorms for the students.

The only thing that sucked as that no one had their own bathroom in their dorm, so every floor had a public shower. Sky and the leaders didn't mind though. Whenever they showered they made everyone else leave until they were done. Sky snickered. The perks of being a leader... Of course, there was one more thing on the top floor that was not a dorm nor a bathroom. He rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. True had his own bar up there. After every victory, they always celebrated it in True's bar. Sure, there wasn't enough room, but everyone always got some drinks. Hangovers were very common in the training sessions the next day.

Sky's office was also up on the top floor. He could see the large window that allowed light into his office from here. It was empty, of course. He had locked it when he left it a few minutes ago. He shook his head, remembering why he was leaving the base in the first place. He turned and began to walk down the path, pushing his hands into the pockets of the jacket he wore. Winter was ending. Spring was slowly making it's way to the world, but it was still chilly.

Regardless, Deadlox had his kids running barefoot on the path. Sky snorted as he heard Deadlox screaming at them to pick it up, saying the usual "my grandma could do better than you and she's dead" crap. Deadlox was a nice person, but he was a terrifying general and he didn't hold anything back when it came to insulting and screaming at his recruits during their training sessions. It was funny to listen to, but Sky always felt sorry for the new recruits that usually broke down crying at his first insults. They'd learn to keep the tears in when he'd make them run until they literally collapsed hours later.

He shrugged. Though it sounded horrible, Deadlox said it built character, and that he always got gentler when they were around for a few months. "Break them down," he told Sky once, "and then build them back up."

He watched the group run past him as he continued to walk down the path, heading towards an beach that was a bit away from their base that they now called home. He listened as True let off a small rocket that he and one of his classes had made, and he didn't even jump as it landed just inches from his foot.

"DAMN! THAT WENT FAR!" True screamed in excitement as his kids whooped loudly behind him. Sky rolled his eyes, snorting loudly. He had almost gotten hit by those damn things before. It didn't even phase him anymore. He turned the corner and he listened as their cheers became quiet, before it was only him walking through the forest and he could only hear the sounds of nature. He thought back to the past year, and how they had gotten enough money to build a base. Don't laugh. Sky published an album. Apparently one of the recruits had recorded him singing once when he was in the hallway and sent it to their father, who was the owner of a business that helped singers become stars. Needless to say, he wanted Sky's voice in his studio as soon as possible.

Sky didn't expect for his voice to be as loved by others. In the first night they sold over one thousand copies. His album was only a dollar, but the more people heard about him, the more people bought it. Of course, most of the savings had gone to building the base, but he didn't see the shame in that. It wasn't wasted. It was nice to sleep in an actual bed and to see the recruits fighting with some actual equipment. They needed to be properly trained if they wanted any chance of surviving this war, and maybe, perhaps, winning it. Of course, Sky had his doubts. But he didn't fully expect them to either win or lose, he had no idea how this war could end. It could end in victory, in bloodshed, in complete genocide of the squids or of his army... He didn't know. And he didn't want to try and see what it could be. He could only take it one step at a time...

Suddenly, Ian was beside him. He didn't jump. He had known he was there in the trees above him when he came to the forest. "Are you sure about this?" Ian spoke after a few moments, and Sky smiled slightly.

"His father is very sure of his abilities."

"Hm."

"You can always turn him to another division if it doesn't work out."

"I don't want to waste my time."

"You have no other apprentices, it's not like anyone will be losing training time."

"I will be."

"I'm sure you'll manage."

Ian just huffed, before he stopped just behind the treeline. Sky rolled his eyes, before he broke out of the forest and onto the beach. He saw the grand ship waiting for him at the shores, and he watched as a board was placed from the ship edge to the sand. He glanced around, and saw what he was looking for. He walked a few paces to the side, picking something from a bush and hiding it behind his back as he walked down the sand. As he did, a figure appeared on the ship, in front of the board. Sky could just make out their appearance, though he knew who it was already.

The King of the End stood there. He had reddish brown hair where one bang covered one of his eyes while the other glowed a gleaming purple. His skin was pale and he wore a white shirt lined with dark purple and dark gray jeans and black shoes. His grand black and purple wings were folded on his back, and if they were opened wide he would block out the sun from the angle Sky was seeing him in. He crossed his arms over his chest as he saw the approaching Commander, narrowing his eyes skeptically, before he glanced down beside him. Sky followed his gaze, and he held back a smile.

A teenager, looking around fifteen, sixteen, was huddled close to the King's back, peering around his side as he stared at Sky. He had black hair, his hair fashioned in a bang that covered his eye much like his father. His skin was also pale, and he had black jeans and shoes and wore a black and dark blue checkered flannel jacket with a red shirt underneath. The sleeves covered his arms, and Sky's eyes saddened as he could only imagine what was underneath them. The King's tail gently poked the teenager in the back, nudging him forward.

"Don't be rude, Zexy." The King's voice was deep, heavily accented, and the teenager, Zexy, Prince of the End, looked up at him before he looked back at Sky. Slowly, he walked down the board, Sky stopping a few yards away from him as his feet touched the sand. Zexy stared at him, his gaze shy, nervous, and uncertain. He noticed Sky was hiding something, and a bit of curiosity sparked in the sad, red orbs. Sky only smiled gently, stepping forward and holding out what he had been hiding, and Zexy's eyes widened.

In Sky's hand was a small bundle of snowdrops. The delicate flowers were in full bloom, and they looked beautiful. Though their head hung lowly and sadly, they still shone and gleamed with their own beauty. Zexy stared at them with wide eyes, before he looked at Sky. Sky was smiling at him still. "They're for you." He whispered, and Zexy's eyes widened farther before he looked at the flowers once more. Slowly, he reached out and took them, looking down at them. Slowly, a small smile crept onto his lips. After a few moments, he let out a soft, happy giggle. The King's eyes widened, before his own grin split across his lips. Sky smiled wider, but when the King saw him staring, he quickly turned his head away as he wiped the grin off of his face.

Sky only chuckled, before he looked down at Zexy, who stared up at him with wide eyes. "Welcome to the army, Zexy." Sky whispered gently. "I promise you that he will never get you here."

Tears welled in Zexy's eyes, before he hugged Sky as tightly as he could. Sky blinked, his eyes widening, before he glanced up at Enderlox. Enderlox smiled just slightly, and Sky smiled back before he looked down at Zexy, gently hugging him back as the teenager sobbed softly into his shoulder, steam coming from his cheeks as the water slid down his skin. Sky felt someone beside them, and when he looked over, he saw Ian staring at Zexy. When Zexy felt the presence half a second later, he lifted his head and looked at the male. He stopped in surprise as he saw the male, and Ian... smiled.

He took off his sunglasses, revealing his robotic eye and his human one. Zexy's eyes widened even more as he saw the color of his human eye, which was as dark as the sea was at night. "Hello, Zexy." Ian whispered gently. "I promise I'll protect you like my brother did." Zexy stared at Ian, his eyes wide, before he hugged the man who was to become his mentor tightly, sniffling roughly as he tried to keep himself from crying. Sky grinned widely at the two as Ian patted the male's hair.

He had a feeling that was the start of a wonderful apprenticeship.