2298

Gertok Galaxy
Planet Celestine
The Celestine Kingdom
Castle of Dragons
______________________

Night came and went and just as morning had come, everyone had gathered in the hangar bidding goodbye to Chenoa, Varian, Summer Dawn, Logan, General Nox, and Solana.

“Luna, be on your best behavior,” Solana began, her tone patronizing as she cupped her younger sister's cheeks between her palms and patted them gently. “I am entrusting Fletcher with your wellbeing while I am away on the reconnaissance mission.”

Luna stiffened at her sister's touch, her tone getting under her skin, but she didn't react to it. She simply nodded. “I will, Solana. I promise. I'll remain here in the castleship like you commanded me, too.” she confirmed, her voice downcast.

Solana didn't pick up on the tone. She skimmed over it with a smug smile at how easily Luna complied. “Good,” she reached her hand up and patted her head like a dog. “I wouldn't expect anything less from you.”

“Can we go now?” Summer Dawn's impatient voice broke Solana away from Luna's gaze. She frowned as she exchanged a glance with Varian, who seemed rather annoyed with Solana's patronizing tone.

Varian was quick to defend Luna, having spent enough time with her to know she was capable of doing just fine on her own. “I think Luna will be able to take care of herself.” he piped up, lingering in the doorway to the smaller spaceship they'd use to go to the Cerkoik outpost. 

Solana turned towards Varian with a slight frown, her expression hardening. "I am doing what is pragmatic. She is my responsibility, after all." She looked back at Luna, her gaze softening for a brief moment before she quickly returned her attention back to Varian. "It is for her own good."

Luna frowned slightly at Solana's words, prickling at the patronizing tone. For her own good. She opened her mouth to defend herself but closed it back, knowing it'd do no good because Solana was stubborn. 

Varian could sense Luna's irritation, and he rolled his eyes at Solana. "You're treating her like she's a child, Solana," he retorted. "She's more capable than you give her credit for."

Solana shot Varian a sharp look, her annoyance growing. "How is she capable? She hadn't been but for an hour at most free of a governess before the Cerkoik attacked. She has never been on her own, and without Mother and Father here, it is my sole duty to protect her. It is what they would want.”

Varian clenched his jaw, suppressing the urge to snap at Solana. "And what about what Luna wants?" he growled through gritted teeth. 

Solana's eyes narrowed at his words, her irritation growing. "What she wants is not important. Her safety is my priority, and as her older sibling, I have a duty to protect her. Even if it means making decisions that she may not agree with."

Varian shook his head, his frustration mounting. "You're treating her like a possession, not a person. Maybe you should try listening to what she has to say for once.”

Solana's anger was flaring, or perhaps it was more so annoyance. "And what would you know? Hmm? You have only known her for what? A couple of ketuxi? I have known her since the day she was born. You are not going to tell ME what to do with my sister.”

Varian's face flushed red as his own temper flared. "I know enough. I've seen how you treat her. You talk down to her, you don't listen to her opinions, and you always assume you know what's best. You don't give her any credit for being her own person." he snapped, his eyes narrowing.

Luna, who had been quietly observing the exchange between her sister and Varian, finally spoke up. "It is fine, Varian. I do not mind." She tried to defuse the conversation by being passive and dismissive.

Varian's gaze snapped towards her, surprise flashing across his face at the sudden interruption. He couldn't understand how Luna was just dismissing him as he defended her. It didn't make sense.

Solana crossed her arms, her annoyance with the pair growing. "It is not your place to meddle with how I treat my own sister." her voice sharp as she cut Varian off, making sure he couldn't rebuttal.

"Solana," Fletcher took a step forward, being the adult and buffer between everyone to make sure this didn't escalate into something more heated. "I assure you, I will take good care of your sister while you are on the reconnaissance mission. I will follow your instructions per request. I have raised Sammy and Malyla, so you can place your trust in me.”

Solana turned to Fletcher, her annoyance still evident on her face. "I want to trust you, I do, but..." She trailed off, her gaze going to Luna again who was standing quietly to the side.

Varian's irritation flared at Solana's hesitation. He couldn't comprehend why she was so reluctant to trust Fletcher. "But what? Fletcher is more than capable of taking care of Luna. He is an adult, he's nearly 30, and he's been alive longer than you have. He's got the experience.”

"Varian," Fletcher warned him, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Thank you for your quick defense, but it is not needed." he turned to Solana, his expression understanding. "We are safe here on Celestine, within the castle-ship. So, your priority should be focused on the reconnaissance mission and returning in one piece.”

Solana let out a sigh, her frustration gradually easing. "You are right," she grudgingly admitted, averting her gaze off to the side momentarily. "It's just... I worry about her. She is my little sister, the only family I have left. I need to protect her."

Varian rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "More like you need to control her.” which earned him a glare from Summer Dawn who elbowed him in the side.

"Solana, Varian," General Nox spoke up, appearing between Summer Dawn and Varian, lingering in the doorway. "We must leave. We can not afford to waste time with what is at stake." he spoke, his voice steady with commanding authority.

Solana stiffened at the sound of General Nox's voice, her attention immediately snapping to the general. "Of course. We shall leave at once." She turned to Luna, her expression softening momentarily. "I will return soon, Luna. Until then, do as Fletcher instructs. Do not, under any circumstance, leave the castle-ship.”

Luna nodded silently, her expression still downcast. She knew better than to argue or protest with Solana. "I will do as you say," she murmured softly. "Be safe, Solana, please,”

Solana's gaze softened, her irritation from before disappearing for a moment as she regarded Luna. "I will," she promised. "I'll be back before you know it." With that, she tore her gaze away and turned towards the smaller spaceship.

Varian turned around and disappeared inside, followed by Summer Dawn, and lastly, Solana, before General Nox closed the door and took a seat in the cockpit.

Within a few moments, the spaceship was zipping out of the hangar and off through the air, disappearing through the Celestine atmosphere within seconds.

“So, Luna,” Hara suddenly said, turning her eyes away from the hangar’s door as it closed shut and placing her hand on the Lunari princess’ shoulder. “Be honest with me, how are you feeling?”

Luna furrowed her brows as she pondered Hara's words, her fingers twisting a lock of her hair between them. “I am not sure. There is an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach at the moment that makes me feel antsy.” She admitted, shifting on her feet and starting to pace.

“That would be anxiousness,” Hara informed Luna, reaching out and placing both hands on the princess' shoulders, stopping her in her tracks. “It will pass,” she reassured her before continuing. “You finally got freedom.”

Luna sighed softly, her eyes downcast as she pondered Hara's words. "It feels strange. Liberation mixed with unease. Freedom.” she tested out the words, still feeling uneasy. 

Hara nodded, understanding the conflicting feelings Luna was experiencing. "It is normal to feel that way," she said gently. "Freedom is a beautiful feeling, and now that your sister is not here, it's time to do everything you've ever wanted to without fear or judgment from her!" 

Luna's eyes lit up at Hara's words, excitement coursing through her at the possibility of finally doing what she wanted without Solana's constant scrutiny. "Truly? Do you mean I can actually do whatever I want?" her eyes sparkled for a brief moment before it died out. “I... I can not... I promised Solana I would do as she said and stay within the castle-ship, not doing anything that could potentially bring me harm.”

Fletcher moved beside Luna, placing a firm hand on her shoulder, gently gripping it with a kind smile. "That you did," he confirmed, but continued. 

"That doesn't mean you can't still do what you want. As long as you don't break them, you can bend them to a certain extent and push the limits." Malyla pipped up, all eyes on her as she put her hands up. "I'm just saying. It doesn't always apply to all rules. Just some tend to be bendable depending on the circumstances."

Zaheer's eyes widened, surprised by those words coming from Malyla's mouth. "Is this Invasion of the Body Snachers? Because normally you wouldn't be suggesting ... wait, actually, you would see how many times you've bent the rules at school and with Fletcher.”

Fletcher chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "She does have a point," he said, his hand still on Luna's shoulder. "Rules are not always so rigid, especially when it comes to certain situations. Sometimes, they can be bent or even broken if necessary."

Hara raised an eyebrow at the conversation, a smile creeping onto her lips. "I never thought I'd hear Malyla advocating for breaking rules. You almost sound like Varian, and he's not even here.”

Malyla scoffed, her eyes rolling in a playful manner. "Please, I'm nothing like Varian," she retorted, her hands on her hips. "I just know when the rules are worth breaking and when they're not. Besides, if someone needs to learn how to bend some rules, it's Luna.”

"It's a tricky line, though, knowing when to bend and not to bend." Pedro piped up, his eyes shifting from Malyla to Luna. "Just go with your gut. Do what feels right. That is what my dad tells me, and my gut feeling has never steered me wrong.”

Fletcher nodded in agreement, his gaze steady on Luna. "Pedro is right. When it comes to bending rules, it's important to follow your instinct and trust your judgment." he looked at Luna, his gaze softening. "But remember, not everything can be bent or broken. Some rules are there for a reason, and defying them can have serious consequences.”

Luna listened intently to their words, her shoulders feeling a bit lighter as they encouraged her to bend the rules, even if it's just a little bit. "It sounds complicated," she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I have never been one to even consider breaking or bending the rules.”

Fletcher gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, his tone reassuring, "And that is okay. But being in this situation, you have the opportunity to learn and grow." he smiled warmly at her, withdrawing his hand. "If you want to be a Celestial Guardian, you'll have to test your limits and explore your boundaries.”

Luna inhaled deeply, his words sinking in. He had a point. If she wanted to be a Celestial Guardian, she needed to push herself out of her comfort zone and take calculated risks. "You are right," her voice grew more confident, and some new found determination setting ablaze in her eyes. "I will not know unless I try.”

Sammy grinned and bounced over to Luna, grabbing her hand while looking up at her with sparkly eyes. “So, what do you want to do first with your newfound freedom?” he asked rhetorically before continuing. “Explore beyond the kingdom gates and out of his castle-ship.”

Fletcher chuckled, reaching out and ruffling Sammy's hair, an endearing expression on his face. “Let's let Luna decide, Sammy. We have plenty of time to explore beyond the kingdom.” he expressed, withdrawing his hand from the younger boy's head.

Luna giggled softly, amused by Sammy's excitement. She looked down at him, a small smile spreading across her face. "You seem more excited for my freedom than I do," she mused, crouching down in front of him to be at eye level.

Fletcher let out a soft laugh, his blue eyes glimmering with amusement. "Maybe Sammy just recognizes the value of freedom more than the rest of us," he suggested, a hint of fondness in his tone. "He has been crafting his culinary talent since he was like five by himself, with adult supervision, and ran errands in the store with free reign.”

“Mom was so proud, and Dad was too. It made them happy.” Sammy let out a playful huff, swatting Luna's hand away from his head and puffing out his chest in mock bravado. 

Luna couldn't help but let out a soft laugh as she withdrew her hand. "I admire you, Sammy," It was endearing how Sammy could effortlessly lift the mood. “I hope, one day, I will be able to recognize the value of freedom.”

Fletcher chuckled at Sammy's antics, his gaze lingering on him for a moment before returning his attention to Luna. "You will, Luna. We have faith in you, especially Varian. You're fully capable.” he gently encouraged, a smile still playing at the corners of his lips.

Luna averted Her gaze toward the floor, her cheeks and tips of her pointed ears flushed. “Thank you for the confidence,” she was grateful that she had people who were supportive and there to help guide her into being independent. “I will show Solana I am capable.”

Fletcher smiled warmly at her, proud of her determination. "I have no doubt that you will," he reassured her, placing his hand on her shoulder again and gently squeezing it before withdrawing it again. "Just remember to take it one step at a time and don't be too hard on yourself."

Hara nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with kindness. "And don't forget that you have us to support you," she said softly, wrapping her arm around Luna's shoulders. "Now, what do you have in mind the first thing you want to do with your freedom?”

Luna smiled as Hara wrapped her arm around her shoulders, feeling a sense of comfort from the gesture. She thought for a moment, considering her options. "I want to free climb the rock wall to the horizon waterfall and jump from the top into the water below and conquer my fear of heights.”

Fletcher's eyebrows shot up in surprise at her bold suggestion. "That's quite a daring first step," he exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and admiration in his voice.

Malyla let out a low whistle, and her eyes widened with a hint of awe. "Okay, you're not just bending the rules. You're breaking them," she said, though there was a hint of excitement mixed with her words. "Not bad, Luna, you keep surprising me.”

Luna shyly looked down as Hara unwrapped her arm from around he'd shoulders. "I know that being a Celestial Guardian means taking leaps of faith, and I know Solana would never allow me to do it. That is why I want to, and it may be daunting. However, I feel it is the first thing I need to do.”

Fletcher nodded, his eyes shining with respect. "It takes courage to face your fears, especially when you know your sister would object to such an idea." He walked closer to her, a supportive smile on his face. "I admire your willingness to take the risk."

Hara let out a soft sigh, a reminiscent look glinting in her eyes. "If Summer Dawn was here, she'd be thrilled because she loves doing those things. She's an adrenaline junkie. Heck, she does parkour, which I think would be fun for us to try around the ruined palace." 

"Why we are at it, why don't we go sky diving." Malyla added albeit sarcastically, which caused a look from everyone, especially Fletcher, to her. "Look, even I know a Celestial Guardian will be jumping from things, I do watch sci-fi shows, you know."

"Let's not go that far," Pedro pipped up, shifting on his feet. "At least not yet." he then sighed, calming his nerves from the very thought of sky diving. "Anyways, we still need to finish the castle-ship, so maybe someone could put together a schedule?"

Fletcher nodded, his eyes firmly focused on Pedro as he mulled over the suggestion. "That's a good idea. We should pirotize our time and make sure to get adequate rest and food besides keeping active and having some free time."

Hara clapped her hands together as her eyes went wide, a thought popping into her head. "Oh, Summer Dawn said something about making one already, and she'd leave it in her room for us.”

"Did she now?" Fletcher's curiosity piqued, considering the possibility of Summer Dawn having already prepared a schedule. "That would be incredibly helpful." He rubbed the back of his neck, contemplating the implications. "If she has already crafted one, we could save some time and effort." 

Sammy couldn't help but interject, having his own ideas about what to add in. "What if we add in some additional activities to the schedule? Like spending some time foraging for ingredients I need for food?"

"Yeah, and maybe some sparring with weapons in the training room?" Hara suggested hesitantly before adding. "I know not everyone is set on the idea of being a Celestial Guardian, but we should at least know how to defend and handle ourselves in tough situations.”

"But we do need to make sure we are ready to help with the reconnaissance mission once they get to the outpost." Pedro suggested, causing everyone to mellow out. "I know we have three days until then, but there is always a chance of running into unexpected issues.”

Fletcher sighed, running a hand through his hair he remained quiet for a moment, his mind running a mile a minute. “Hara, you go get the schedule, Pedro go get the communication device Chenoa left us. Luna, you go get whatever swimming attire or athletic attire Lunari and Solari wear. Sammy, you get your gardening kit you brought with you. And Zaheer and Malyla, you're going to come with me, and we will do a sweep and check of the castle-ship to make sure everything is locked and protected while we are away. Then we meet back here in half an hour, okay?” he commanded as everyone agreed and departed to go about their respective tasks.

🌑☀️🌑☀️🌑☀️🌑☀️🌑☀️🌑☀️🌑

A/N:
I was having trouble figuring out what to do for this chapter. It's my own fault for procrastinating. I'm trying to find the balance between keeping a steady pace but moving too fast or adding too many filler chapters. I'm trying to make sure everything is perfect so the characters can be developed and connections strengthened.

Chapter Talk:
Solana and Varian are going to be butting heads the whole time to the outpost and during and back. Especially considering how close Varian has come to Luna, and how protective Solana is of her will be an interesting dynamic.

I also wanted to show more of Luna’s turmoil trying to find herself since her sister isn't there. It was clear in the previous chapters and prologue that everyone treated Luna like a child, even her parents because she was both the youngest princess and the first second born child between a Lunari and Solari.

Thanks for reading!