Eary stared out the window of the large balcony of his bedroom. Stranding on his tiptoes, he waited there each day for him there. The sight of a boy around his age came running out into the churchyard. His little heart filled with delight as he waived vigorously to his friend.

The boy appeared to be human, or at least he suspected. As his hair was a rich mahogany, unlike the Aedish typical gold. Eary didn't know too many people. But he knew his father allowed them safe passage in his kingdom. So it excited him deeply, never the same.

"Hi!" Eary called out as he waived in his ornate cloak.

The boy waived back but did not speak. No matter what he called out to him, he'd only ever waive. But today was a special day. Eary's father had given him a special present; a homing ball. His father had suggested that he threw it back and forth to himself when he was bored. But Eary had a different idea. He'd play with the boy from the temple! Father didn't know about him. It was against the rules for Eary to be seen, and with the boy being human, it had to stay a secret.

Eary would up and threw the ball to the boy. To his surprise and delight, the boy caught it with great skill. Instinctively he tossed it back. The two continued for what seemed like an eternity. Eary felt so alive. Then the sound of the door to his room rang in his ear.

"Eary. Wake up!"

He opened his eyes to meet a familiar mahogany gaze and warm smile.

"Morning Eph." Eary moaned as he rubbed his eyes.

Ephraim was still in his pajamas's while Josh quietly collected his clothing. Eary stumbled out of bed and groggily followed suit. He was busy sorting through sock matches when he heard Ephraim groan in pain. The boy held his head in his hands and clenched over.

"Are you okay?" Eary asked and instinctively embraced him in a healing glow.

Ephraim shook his head a few times.

"Yeah, it was just this sinus thing I've been dealing with. I think you got it with your powers, thanks."

Ephraim replied dismissively.

Eary backed off. It was bad enough Josh was mad at him. He didn't need Ephraim mad too. And considering how cool he's been with Decan, he wasn't looking to push things. He hurriedly gathered his things and got changed in the bathroom. Downstairs he joined Maggie, Hannah and Mei as she gabbed and eagerly him over to a saved spot on the sofa.

"Hey guys." Eary smiled as brightly as he could to hide his growing concerns.

Mei and Maggie giddily discussed uniforms while Eary and Hannah dutifully listened. Focusing on the breakfast in his lap he braced himself for another grueling day. He nodded along politely as the girls continued their discussion. But he was lost in his own mind.

Who was the boy he played with in his dream? He pondered the possibilities of his life. Who he grew up to be. What course his life took. The thought's trickled in like water finding it's way into every crack.

He snapped out of his sanctum of thoughts. Luke and Sakile arose from a nearby sofa.

"Alright!" Luke announced with a big yawn. "We're off to Bright Hope to become a world famous inventors."

"Wait!" Alice exclaimed as she tossed down her plate and joined the pair. "I'm going too."

"What? Why?" Luke asked in confusion as he picked up a large bag.

"Because I can't go to school with them and I get bored here all day." Alice replied with a smirk.

Luke rolled his eyes and shook his head. A faint smirk flashed across his face as the trio made their way to the portal door. Delia called the kids out shortly after and loaded them all up for school. On the way, Decan talked about possible places to port to. However, Eary was drawn in by his rear view mirror. Ephraim stared blankly out the passenger side window. His dazed expression was a far cry from the usual lively hockey kid.

The school day went the same as before. Lunch proved to be the stand out. While Eary gathered in the commons with his friends. They were joined by the most unlikely of guests. Josh sat down within the group of teens and began to strike up a conversation with Calvin. Eary smiled at the exchange. Although he couldn't help but wonder where Ephraim and Decan were. The period had almost concluded when Decan came marching in, his face full of confusion.

"Dude, what happened?" Decan asked in bewilderment.

"Nothing, it's fine. I had to go." Josh replied softly, eyes adverted.

"What happened? Did Jackson say something to you?" Decan inquired.

The bell rang and Josh quickly maneuvered into the sea of students. Decan watched helplessly as he disappeared out of sight. Eary moved in on the scene.

"What's going on? Is Josh okay?"

"I don't know. He just ran off all of a sudden." Decan replied in confusion. "I've ben looking for him all lunch period."

Eary's interest was piqued by Josh's strange behavior. But an afternoon of cheer and rehearsal for the play at home, left little energy left to invest in his brother's woes. After supper, the team headed to Bright Hope. Luke directed the crowd to the Star Gazer's hidden laboratory. Once there he proudly directed the youths to a table with various gadgets strewn about.

A glowing orb of green materialized among the tables scraps. Two long green bat ears and a green glowing behind announced the presence of a moteling. Mote quickly zipped in a blur of blue to greet his little compatriot.

"Oran! How ya doin'?" Mote asked as he landed next to his the green fluffy moteling.

"I've been doing just fine, Boss." Oran replied enthusiastically. "Got me another gig working on ancient tech."

Luke stepped in and greeted the green moteling warmly. It hovered gracefully to his brother's shoulder. He crossed his arms and gave a sly glance to Oran.

"Wanna see what we've been up to today?" Luke asked smugly.

The team amassed around Luke's collection of gizmo's. A debris of scraps and glowy metal stuff disguised any attempt at discerning anything polite to say. Eary grinned in child like wonder to his proudly posturing brother. Nodding back, Luke reached down and grabbed an item from the table. He politely asked Mote for his hind leg. After some convincing Mote begrudgingly complied.

*Clip*

Mote was now wearing a strange band around his ankle.

"What the hell?" Mote angrily exclaimed as he yanked aggressively at the device.

"Relax, Boss! I promise, it's a good thing." Oran cheerfully explained.

Mote pulled out a switch blade from his pocket. With a quick flash, an eight inch blade of sterling steel came darting out. He brandished it angrily.

"You Motha Fucker! Get this damn think off my ankle!" He screamed as he darted at Oran. "I've avoided one of these for 19 universes, and you ain't puttin' one on me now!"

He began to chase Oran aggressively around the room, swinging his switch blade. He was stopped when Eary caught him in a force field. He had accidentally used his infused shields in a panic. Causing the moteling to ricochet erratically inside the sphere until Eary released him, sending the moteling tumbling to the tile below.

Eary ran up to check on the ancient beings status.

"Mote buddy! I'm sorry, but I accidentally used my reflective shields to stop you." Eary explained with his eyes and heart full of shock.

"Ya don't say." Mote groaned as he scraped his stretchy body from the floor.

Eary stared on awkwardly as he watched his friend pull his splattered self together. It was rare that this ever happened. Once, he, Ephraim and Josh were playing street hockey and old Mrs. Faris came cruising in at impossible speeds. As she crushed their set up with her large Buick, she had also hit Mote. Who materialized the second she hit him. This, she managed to see. As she screamed and turned on her wipers, she flung the mushed Mote into a nearby ditch. Eary rushed to his aide and helped him pick gravel and weeds from his elasticy body.

But this was different. This was his fault. Eary tried to alleviate the growing tension as Mote gave him the consistent stink eye while he thumb-in-mouth reinflated himself. After a quick pop and a brief shake, Mote was as good as new.

Luke approached the enraged moteling.

He quickly explained, "Look man, it's just a translator and a hive summoner." Luke explained. "You know, for back-up?"

Mote examined the ring the now adorned his left ankle. He raised his little bat like brows and huffed.

"What's it do exactly?" Mote asked in a suspicious growl.

Oran nervously approached the head moteling. He got on his hands and knees and explained how the device translates the moteling magical language of Moteish, to English. It also will summon more of their kind, if ever in need. Mote graciously smiled and apologized. He now stared in spacious amazement as he wiggled his little toes enthusiastically, grinning ear to ear.

"Hey now! I can summon up some motelings in a snap?" He asked as he compared his duel rings.

Oran confirmed Mote's assumption. The blue little moteling jumped in unbridled joy.

"I can really use this!" He patted his green friend on the head. "Oh and sorry about before. Next time, ask."

Oran nervously smiled and bowed away from his King. Mote began to hold out his fist with his ring and kick with his ankle bracelet. He happily announced,

"Now I can get a little army together whenever I need! Like in the ruins..." Mote boasted to Eary.

"Yeah, some help in that fight would have been nice." Eary groaned as he subtle sneered at Mote.

"I mean, ya looked pretty good out there, I thought." Mote exclaimed.

"Really? You think so?" Eary asked as he shifted to a more appreciative mood.

"Absolutely!" Mote Replied loudly. "Which is why we should use this gift for back-up... dancers. I was pretty bare out there as Tina. Imagine what the whole hive woulda looked like?"

Eary curled his lips inward and tried his best to smile. His expression mattered little as the moteling continued to squawk about the line-up. He summoned the tribe in a menagerie of multi-colored lights and immediately began to instruct them on the ways of modern dance. Thrusting and grinding, Mote waived off the group and told them he would be busy for awhile. Luke led the group to another table while the rest chuckled as the motelings copied Mote's obscene dancing.

A large object, much taller than Eary, was concealed behind a tan burlap cloth. Luke proudly approached a corner of the cloth. Quickly peeling it back, A frame, of what looked like a crate with a sharp angle at the front lay before them.

"Super cool, Luke." Eary said politely smiling as best he could. "What are we looking at here?"

"It's a ship, I think." Luke replied as he focused his gaze on his days work.

Calvin looked awe struck as he stepped forward to examine the frame.

"What kind of ship?" He asked his astonishment dripping from each word.

Luke smiled and nodded his head in Sakile's direction. To which the stocky smooth headed man maneuvered over to his brother.

"It's a ship, Cal." Sakile said in a hushed tinge of anticipation.

Eary recalled Calvin's dreams of being a pilot being dashed before they were realized before. Although he didn't talk about it much, it must have bothered him. Calvin closely examined the soon-to-be craft. His eyes were beginning to tear when he asked,

"You'll need someone to fly it." He stated as his voice cracked.

Luke chuckled as Sakile smirked and nodded. His eyes told of the intent of the craft. Calvin stared on in suspense. The group all stood in a tribal anticipation. Their smiles holding confirming the obviousness of the gesture.

"We were thinking you could do it. You control the wind. Who else should do it?" Sakile stated firmly as his stern expression faded into a blatant smile.

Calvin quickly hugged his brother, thanking him a hundred times. He then thanked Luke before quickly jumping into the frame to investigate. He wandered around aimlessly before Mei joined him. He embraced her enthusiastically as he then escorted her to random spots around the craft. Explaining something just out of earshot.

Eary was feeling the weight of his daily duties. Fatigue had set in and his mind began to wander. Thinking of his bed, he decided to retire for the evening. Another grueling day of school, cheer and play rehearsals lay before him. He politely excused himself and headed back to Toronto.

Before he got out of the lab, Luke called out to him.

"Hey Eary, wait up!" His athletic brother jogged briskly towards him.

Eary was caught a bit off guard when he replied,

"What is it?"

"I made you and the girls something too." Luke replied.

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a gold circular object. He handed it to Eary, who immediately inspected it. A thin crease suggested it opened. Using his fingernail, he quickly popped it free.

Eary was lifted from the floor and engulfed in a swirl of rainbow lights. He spun around as his attire changed. First long knee-high socks adorned his legs. While a pair of blue and white shorts and t-shirt emerged out of nothing onto the startled teen. Sweat band clung to his forehead and wrists in a flash of light. His school's team name wrote it's self onto his uniform as pom-poms appeared in his hand. He finally landed. His right pom-pom draped dramatically above his head. While the left grasped his pom-pom and rested on his hip.

Luke immediately burst into laughter as Eary glared at his brother.

"Luke." Eary said firmly while maintaining his pose. "What the hell is this?"

Luke was laughing so hard he could barely breathe. Eary stood quietly playing along. After a bit, Luke regained his composure. He explained,

"It's a..." Luke said as he began to chuckle, "Sailor Moon transformation locket."

Eary shrugged his hands to his side while Luke returned to enjoying his joke.

"Why?" Eary huffed.

"Ah, don't be like that, bud." Luke replied as he composed himself and consoled his brother. "I know you four are excited about cheer leading. I just thought it would be a cool way to change quick. It does other things too."

Luke took the device from Eary's hands. He opened it and explained that it could be used to hold different clothing options and accessories. Although a bit put off by the reminder of his up coming day of Sargent Mei instructing everyone to be Olympians. He did see the use. Thanking his brother he headed back home for some rest.

After getting ready, he entered the room. To his surprise, Josh was already in bed, staring at the ceiling. Eary cautiously moved across the hard wood floors and crawled into the adjacent side. Leaving a void where Ephraim should be.

Eary rolled over and closed his eyes. The events of the last two days were slowly pulling him into a pleasant slumber. He felt a wash of stress wash away. But a deep, distraught voice pulled him back to consciousness.

"Have you been fooling around with Ephraim?" Josh stated out of the deafening silence.

"What?" Eary replied groggily as he turned to face the accusation.

"If you did, just tell me. I need to know." Josh said, his eyes locked on the ceiling.

"No." Eary stated bluntly. "I was actually over him and this whole mess while I was away. There's another boy."

"Who? Denby?" Josh asked.

"No." Eary replied in nervous hesitation. "Decan."

Josh looked over in shock.

"You know Laura is having his baby, right?"

Eary was taken aback. He knew she was pregnant. But Decan had assured him of their shared investment in terminating the pregnancy. Then Laura ducking out of cheer made sense. Medical issue, he thought as he stared teary eyed at his brother.

"He said they were ending it." Eary replied softly.

"Laura and Decan's families said 'no'. So, yeah, she's having his kid." Josh replied, his tone strangely concerned.

Eary collapsed into his spot as the reality of his life becoming more complex took him. He placed his hand over his face. He sobbed quietly to himself until he felt his brothers embrace. He looked up in surprise at the unusually warm gesture. Josh cradled him as he wept. After the storm, Eary asked,

"Why are you so focused on Ephraim?"

"I love him." Josh replied as he fought back his own tears. "I was always jealous of you two. I didn't have that. Even with Decan. You two had this thing. I guess over the years that grew into things for me. I liked everything about him, and he was yours. When he joined hockey, I took my chance one night during one of your sleepovers. I kissed him. It felt great. We kept doing it. Never more than kissing, he'd say. But I always tried."

Josh tightened his grip as Eary felt the deep sobs in his brothers chest.

"I never knew." Eary said to the revelation.

"I wasn't nice to you because of it." Josh sobbed. "I'm sorry."

The two held each other as years of anger and resentment washed away. The still of the air and their hearts echoed at the twin's reconstituted relationship. A question had riddled Eary's mind since lunch. Taking his courage by the hand, he bravely asked,

"What happened at school today?"

No further explanation was need to the inquiry. Josh sighed heavily as he revealed,

"I found out that Ephraim has been fooling around with Jackson Drab behind my back for years." Josh explained, his anguish escaping with each word.

Eary consoled his brother as he was shaken by the revelation as well. Ephraim had also tried to get with him. Is this the kind of thing one should expect from him? Was he really this sleazy?

Josh cried himself to sleep while Eary angrily awaited Ephraim's return. However, The wear of the day and the pressure of years of sibling aggression resolved, Eary drifted off to sleep.