Candles flickered softly, inviting warmth and coziness, as the irangel men lounged comfortably on velvety plush sofas, drinking acai berry juice and enjoying fancy desserts.

Some men were wearing bathrobes, having just come out of the shower or steam room. A few were wearing fancy suits. Others preferred to wear what they wanted, whether it was nice shirts and jeans, basic cargo pants, or business casual clothing, but none were in the nude – they privately reserved that explicit view for the ladies.

As they were talking and eating good food, enjoying one another's company, the door swung open to reveal Irina Acai.

Irina's super long, dark brown hair was adorned with a sparkly violet purple ribbon that matched her glittery long-sleeved princess style violet purple dress. Her sparkly light purple heels made an elegant noise on the smooth marbled floor as she ran inside the men's lounge room.

A tirade of hedgehogs followed Irina, surprising the irangel men when they exclaimed, "How could you, Irina! You destroyed the strawberry garden!"

"I didn't mean to!" Irina said, narrowly missing a stylishly suited Cydtin holding a cup of coffee.

Irina ran directly into Demian, who started smiling in amusement when he heard the thoughts of why the hedgehogs were chasing Irina. Hedgehogs began poking at Irina's heels and biting at her dress, making Irina lean against Demian for protection.

Demian playfully turned her around and held her by the shoulders. "I think you should confront the yyoziki."

Yyoziki is the plural word for hedgehogs; yyozik is the affectionate term for hedgehog; and yyoz means hedgehog in Russian and Iredescent. The z was pronounced like the j in the French word bonjour.

Civic used his telekinetic ability to gently pry the hedgehogs from Irina. "Can you explain what's going on?" Civic asked Irina, wondering the reason for the commotion. Usually the hedgehogs followed Irina with love and adoration, with relaxed quills and noses raised in cheerful delight. Certainly not with spiked-up quills and huffy expressions.

Irina explained, "Ok so, the hedgehogs requested me to build them a replica of Mirror Castle with my glitter manipulation ability. I created the replica, but it expanded so much that it collapsed onto their favorite strawberry garden. One thing you should know about Iredescent hedgehogs is that they love strawberries, especially the tiny ones that grow in the wild."

"Yeah, and the strawberry garden is drowning in glitter, entirely covered and too deep to dig through," a hedgehog said indignantly.

Irina reluctantly turned to face the angry hedgehogs. "My dear yyoziki, I apologize. I can't restore your strawberry garden, but I can remove the glitter and rebuild the castle, this time in a different location. I can fortify it so that it won't collapse again."

"Apparently, you mistook a glitter castle for a sand castle," another hedgehog muttered ruefully. "We can't enjoy our favorite strawberries because of the glitter."

Teran decided to step in, crouching in front of the hedgehogs. "Tell you what. I know of an irangel who can restore your strawberry garden and make it grander than it was before. He can even safeguard it from any future collapses and forces of nature like thunderstorms. What do you say, yyoziki?"

"We say yes, and no hugs for Irina," the hedgehogs said in response, haughtily lifting their noses in the air and turning to walk away.

Irina stared at the hedgehogs in astonishment before she retorted, "Fine! No warm sweaters for you to snuggle into either!" She turned away, her gaze falling upon the irangel men.

It dawned on Irina that she was in a room full of attractive Iredescent men. Some were shirtless. Some were dressed in fashionable clothes. Some were confused or wondering why she barged in unexpectedly. Some were looking at her with the same interest and curiosity.

"Welcome to the harem," Anders said in welcome, earning a kick in the shin from Orion.

"This is the irangel men's lounge room, certainly not a harem," Orion clarified.

"Do feel free to check us out," said Desmond, not abashed in the slightest. He eyed Irina, his eyes going up and down her dress. "We would be happy to check you out as well. Maybe interest you in some 'amenities'. I heard they're a hot commodity."

Irina blushed as she stepped out of the irangel men's lounge room, out of fantasy and into reality. The hedgehogs

Desmond kept thinking flirty thoughts before he remembered Cloridy, his thoughts becoming sensual as he looked forward to another provocative time with his girlfriend.

Cole and Viraj were feeling slightly awkward. Anders wanted to be funny with his harem remark. Luciu and Inlivido remained curious.

Cydtin and Civic stood confused, wondering why they received such a reaction, completely forgetting they were shirtless. Orion threw shirts at them, saying, "Dude, put a shirt on."

"Have you any modesty?" Luciu remarked, shaking his head. "Showing yourself like that in a woman's presence."

"At least we're wearing pants," Anders spoke in defense. "We're not entirely naked."

"To be fair, we're models. We're used to being shirtless," said Civic, seeing nothing wrong with being shirtless. "At least we weren't naked."

"That would be the real trouble," Demian agreed.

"You were a model too," Civic said to Cydtin. "You can relate."

"I do relate," said Cydtin, "but I'm also not comfortable with being shirtless unless I'm in the privacy of my room or suitable places like at the beach. Not really my intention to wow or seduce ladies with my body."

"Cydtin, always so elegant," Anders commented as he tugged on a shirt. "You wow and seduce them without even trying. You're just that attractive."

"I know," Cydtin murmured. "Their thoughts give it all away."

"So guys," Viraj spoke, bringing everyone to attention. "Is nobody going to mention how we're to deal with all the glitter Irina left in her wake?" He gestured towards the floor where glitter formed a river on the marble floor.

Cole's eyes widened in astonishment. "Glittering stars, that's a lot of glitter!"

Civic teasingly flung the glitter at Luciu, the anti-glitter irangel. Before Luciu could exclaim, Demian surprised them when he unexpectedly seized a large handful of glitter and tossed it at the irangel, grinning mischieviously at the shocked astonishment on Luciu's face.

What ensured next was a glitter fight. The entire men's lounge room was covered in glitter and wing feathers as the men threw glitter at each other.

Then Desmond said in sudden realization, "Irina materialized a bunch of glitter. That means she has the same glitter manipulation ability as me." Before the confused irangel men could frame a response, Desmond leapt out of the glitter mess and rushed out the door, exclaiming, "Irina Acai! Show me the way of the glitter! Teach me your sparkly ways! I wanna shine like you!"

The irangel men shook their heards in incredulity as the glitter fight paused for a moment.

"I can imagine the glitter fight Irina and Desmond would have," Cydtin said, envisioning a glitter explosion between the two. "They would form enough glitter to fill the entire Grand Canyon and make it sparkle."

"Stars above, they just might be able to," Cole realized in alarm. "We should never allow those two to fight."

"Slim chance of Irina getting angry to actually fight," said Demian. "But hurt a hedgehog and she will show you anger like no other."

Meanwhile, Desmond flew in haste to find Irina, enthralled with the prospect of learning a few things from her once he realized she had the same glitter manipulation ability. He lifted to the sky, his flashy wings a blur as he scoured the area.

His eyes widened at the sight of a glitter castle in a forest. It was made entirely of glitter, sparkling like diamonds underneath a cloudy sky. The glitter castle spanned several distances, forming a hedgehog castle dream home.

The glitter castle was four stories high, with glitter wheels for hedgehogs to run on. Glitter blankets and sweaters snuggled alongside walls for the hedgehogs to sleep in. Slanted ramps went up the floor so hedgehogs could move easily from floor to floor. Smooth railings prevented falls whenever a hedgehog went up a ramp to the next floor.

There was a medieval style banner, rising above purple roses swirled around the turrets, and stained glass windows that gleamed with natural light. No castle was complete without solid walls and an excellent foundation.

In this case, the excellent foundation was the destroyed strawberry garden.

Hedgehogs were moseying around, inspecting the glitter castle or salvaging strawberries. Hot pink and violet purple glitter spread out for several iremeters, wrapping around pylor trees and mirror flowers.

"Wow," was all Desmond could say, enchanted by the shimmery construction of the glitter castle. "How is this possible?"

"This is my glitter manipulation ability," said Irina, appearing from behind a pylor tree. "I think carefully about what I want to materialize or form, then I will it to existence. I use the power of imagination to turn fantasy into reality."

Desmond tilted his head to the side, considering her words. "No limits to imagination. Got it."

And so, the inspired Desmond created a floating ice rink, made entirely of glitter. He materialized ice skates on himself and flew up to the ice rink, cheering happily as he began to ice skate on the smoothly paved glitter.

Show off, Irina thought, shaking her head. He creates a floating ice rink, and he wants me to teach him how to use his own ability? He's capable of using it without my help.

Just then she heard the flapping of wings and turned in time to see Raistin in his Phoenix form, exclaiming, "Wow, a floating ice rink! Thank you, Irina!"

Raistin turned into his human form and landed on the ice rink, trying to slide around in black socks. Irina formed glitter ice skates on Raistin, making them black because she knew it was the only color he wore. Raistin grinned as he began ice skating, albeit unskilled in that endeavor.

Desmond watched Raistin ice skate and remarked proudly, "I was the one who created the ice rink."

"You expect me to believe that? When you're not the one who gave me these ice skates. Irina even made them shimmery."

"But....I created this," Desmond said pathetically. "No fair Irina takes the credit." He materialized a purple glitter coat on Raistin. "Believe me now?"

"Whoa, wait a minute," Raistin said in alarm, taking off the glitter coat. "I don't wear anything other than black. Take this back." Raistin tossed the glitter coat at Desmond, but the glitter coat evaporated into a vapor of shimmer.

Desmond materialized another glitter coat on Raistin, this time a red one.

Raistin took it off in irritation. "Cut it out, Desmond."

"Not until you believe I created the ice rink," Desmond said, materializing another glitter coat on Raistin.

Raistin covered himself in flames; that way Desmond wouldn't be able to put any glitter coats on him.

"Haha," said Raistin, grinning cheerfully and waving at Desmond as he slid past, only to lose his balance and fall onto the ice.

Desmond shook his head. "You're a total klutz when it comes to ice skating."

"Precisely the reason why I don't ice skate," Irina murmured. "How do you even stay balanced on those skates?"

"Good question," said Raistin, slowly getting up, only to slip and fall again.

Then the entire ice rink collapsed. Everyone shouted as they fell into a glitter disc Irina quickly formed to keep them from crashing on the ground. The disc slowly lowered to the ground, to the relief of the ice skaters. Desmond's glitter vanished as Irina willed it to disappear, her glitter overpowering his glitter.

Desmond stared at Irina, amazed by her mastery of glitter. Before he could say any comments of admiration, glitter covered Irina as she expanded her wings and took flight.

Raistin watched her leave, then he turned to the glitter castle, noticing how it remained strong and steady, in no danger of collapsing.

"You really gotta work on your glitter," Raistin told Desmond.

In retaliation, Desmond materialized a hot pink glitter coat on Raistin.

Raistin sighed and set it aflame, adding, "And your fashion style."

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The sweet fragrance of tiramisu and blackberries greeted Raistin and Desmond with a wonderful aroma when they returned to Mirror Castle and learned about Irina's announcement of leaving to go on a space adventure.

"Can't send you off without good wishes and tiramisu," Raistin said, dancing as he twirled around with tiramisu. He accidentally set it on fire, apologizing before he went into the kitchen to grab another tiramisu.

After enjoying tiramisu and tea with Raistin and the irangels, Irina said farewell to the hedgehogs, who would no longer follow her.

"I love you, yyoziki. But I need to be alone on this journey. Stay safe on planet Iredescent. Enjoy strawberries and snuggle often in your favorite blanket."

Irina hugged every hedgehog, materializing glitter roses and blankets for them to appreciate after her departure. Irina hugged Raistin for a very long time, feeling as though it would be her last time.

Though he sensed the same, Raistin chose to leave a cheerful impression, instead of giving into sadness. He sent off fireworks, creating a spectacular display in the pinkish purple morning sky. The irangels watched the Purple Dream disappear from planet Iredescent's atmosphere, heading into a shimmery greenish yellow atmosphere.

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~ Planet Mijishin ~

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An eerie silence greeted Irina as she stepped out of her spaceship and onto the holopad of the Mijishian space center.

I sense her, but there's no one here, Irina thought, feeling a sense of dread wrap around her like a heavy cloak, as she walked around the empty space center.

Unlike the dreamy pinkish purple Iredescent sky, the Mijishian sky was dark and gloomy, a myriad of greens and greys mushed together dismally, as if reluctant to block out the faint vestige of pale yellow sunlight. The feeling grew stronger, the dreadful sensation thrumming as though there was an electrical current pulsing in the air.

Irina heard the clang of swords and turned to see a couple engaging in a sword fight duel.

Or rather, the end of a sword fight duel.

The woman fell in defeat as the man claimed victory. The holopad remained steady, levitating in the air, just a short distance from the space center. It was a launch pad for tactics and practical use. That morning, however, it was a battlefield between two opponents.

Cold shivers crept up Irina's skin as she realized who the woman was.

It was Eirena Irenairina, the Administrator of Illusionary Warfare on planet Mijishin.

Like Irina, Eirena had ankle-length, dark brown hair. It was loose, pulled back from her face with a thin jeweled headband. Her cream white, long-sleeved blouse with navy blue lace and sky blue jewels was tainted in a lethal dark green stain that spilt over her navy blue pants, covering the draped sides of her tunic.

A man stood over her, his sword dripping with blood. The man was very thin and handsome, with thick dark brown hair and dark purple eyes. He somewhat resembled Irina and Eirena, like a twin or a doppelgänger.

Is he another alterself? 'Me' from another world? Irina wondered, drawn to him in that regard, yet keenly aware of the danger lurking behind his stunning appearance.

Horror arose upon the sight of spilt blood. Unlike Irina's shimmery purple Iredescent blood, Eirena's Mijishian blood was metallic emerald green, tinted with golden yellow.

There was no blood on the man, who stood in pristine clothing, unmarked nor injured in the slightest. The buttons of his velvety dark purple suit reflected the cruel shine of his sapphire sword, aiming to kill.

All three came to the same conclusion the moment a name was spoken at the same time the sapphire sword pierced the heart of the one who spoke his name.

"Iren."

It was Eirena's last word before she breathed her last.

As if sensing Irina's presence, the man named Iren turned his cold gaze upon her. Surprise flickered through the coldness, sparing room for emotion aside from the prior fury that overtook him. As though he too was astonished to see another alterself.

Tears clouded Irina's eyes as she looked upon Eirena's murderer. Regret immersed her thoughts as she began to mourn her alternate self. I didn't even get to meet Eirena. If only I arrived a few minutes earlier....

A purple haze surrounded Irina, trapping her as though she was confined inside a locker. Iren appeared directly in front of Irina, revealing his teleportation ability.

"Are all my alterselves so beautiful?" Iren asked in a deceptively smooth tone. "Let me guess, you already love someone." Anger glimmered from a depraved desperation hidden in his eyes.

What does that have to do with what he just did? Did he just try to flirt with me? What is going on? Irina thought, confused by his words.

His subsequent words confused her further. "Your skin sparkles brightly. Very unusual....I wonder if your skin is soft like flesh or hard like diamond." Iren glanced at his sword, contemplating. "I suppose there is a way to find out."

"You killed Eirena," Irina said sternly, on the verge of breaking down and crying.

"Yes," Iren confirmed, his voice like cold winter frost. Furious anger arose, making him lose rational sense. "And you're next."

Glitter immediately burst from the purple haze. Feeling as though he had just been knocked down by a brick wall, Iren groaned as he teleported from the heavy glitter wall, his turn to be confused.

Nobody ever breaks through my haze. Who is this alterself? No matter. Why should I keep her alive if she turns out the same as Eirena?

And so, Iren pursued Irina, who had covered herself in glitter to protect herself from his purple haze. A glitter tsunami materialized to fight Iren, purple glitter collapsing amid the dangerous slashes. Iren hacked at the glitter tsunami with his sword, as Irina made her getaway. Irina frantically ran inside her spaceship, immediately taking flight.

With a fierce thrustof power, Iren destroyed the glitter tsunami with purple flames, the ashesfading to nothing. Iren teleported inside his own spaceship, his dark purpleeyes glaring at the retreating ship, as he continued the chase to anotherplanet.

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"All That Glitters"
by Julien-K

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