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Allies?

Galran Emperor Lotor's sitting in a library. No, he still hasn't read everything Nexus has to offer, many very interesting and potentially beneficial to him, materials. His jaw set, he's looking at his PINPoint communicator intensely. A young man, whom some may recognise as Hiroki Shirogane, comes up to Lotor and makes to sit near him. Lotor gives Hiroki a scathing look.

"I've told you already," Lotor says. His hand goes to the hilt of his sword.

Heeding this lack of invitation, Shirogane doesn't sit down. Instead, he comes very close to Lotor, anyway, and whispers in his ear,

"You really don't want to? Think of it. All the secrets. All the knowledge. In your reach, right here. Or, are you, perhaps, afraid?"

Lotor smirks, and says, "You should be quiet now. What makes you think I need your help, in any way? And I won't be as merciful with you as I was with a friend of mine. Seeing as you are no friend of mine. Only a false ally, it's turned out."

"You mean Narti."

Lotor's eyes widen, and he asks, after almost gasping a little, "How do you know that name?"

"Lotor, please. I know everything. That's what I've been telling you all this morning."

"Fine. But you seem different."

"In what way?"

"Are you yourself?" Lotor asks.

"And would I be here, making this alliance, were I not?" the clone counters.

"Fair point. You may be right."

"I'm always right. So. You want it, don't you, Lotor?"

"Yes. Tell me everything. And we'll defeat the witch and get her Quintessence, together."

"Yeah! That's more like it. That's the Emperor Lotor I know," Hiroki says, smiling pleasantly.

Lotor smirks, and utters, "Indeed. And since you're my subject now, I'll show you mercy and, well, amnesty for your previous crimes as the witch's former puppet."

"Thank you," Shiro's clone replies, putting his hand on Lotor's shoulder, "I appreciate it."

"Who else is with us?" Lotor asks.

"Naturally," the clone answers, "Princess Allura and Antheans."

"Who are Antheans? I've never heard of them," Lotor says, puzzled. "And Allura's back in Nexus?" he asks, hopeful.

"Your new allies, Your Majesty. And indeed she is. She can't wait to see you again."

"Hm. I like the sound of it. However, those Antheans of yours, what are they good for?"

Lotor and the clone are in the library, still, and minding their manners, trying not to talk too loudly. However, as it is a library, feel free to scold them if they're disturbing you.

Or feel free to join the conversation if you get what they're talking about, or even if not.

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Inside the mind, inside the Spirit, the entity doesn't heed the warning. It grows, and then, suddenly, it looks like Hiroki. It snarls and utters,

You've done what you came for. Got what's yours back from the other one, that's not here anymore. What's yours is waiting for you. You should've just left, satisfied. Why don't you?

And then it attacks Ziggy - attacks that pulsating blue and gold - trying to tear him apart.

Tommy's keeping track as much as he can and when he feels the emotions surging calls to his cousin. This might be war and they may all come out of it injured.

His next thoughts are of this man who caught Hiroki. "It's not sickness. It's the witch and..." Tommy trails off as he tries to see what is in the clone's mind.

"You don't belong here." The words are mostly mental but there's a whisper of them in the physical realm too.

Ziggy isn't as prepared to fight this way as he imagined. It hurts and a cry of pain comes out of his physical body but he turns on the darkness. He's not looking to damage the spirit per say. The Anthean tactic has always been to go after the sentient parts, the mind and consciousness of a being. To look for the cracks in the mind of anything and tear them wide open.

He's already accepted that he's going to be injured or may not even make it out of this confrontation, but he isn't willing to abandon his partner to posession.

"The witch, Haggar? Shiro's clone called me here to discuss her. I have no idea who you are - another Anthean? - and know that I'm not involved in this whole farce."

He smirks. Maybe his emotions are getting the better of him, because some irritation and some grudge leak though the mental shield he has around his mind, seamlessly.

"This is not the negotation it was supposed to be. Should I cut it down?" Lotor asks, pointing at Shiro's clone.

"I think that'd help all the actual people involved. May I?"

In the mind, or maybe even deeper, in the spiritual realm, the Entity attacks again.

Suddenly, the real Hiroki, his spirit, appears between that creature and Ziggy, and takes the brunt of the attack.

"We've had.. difficulties with her presence." Tommy is watching, waiting for the rest of the family. "I am an Anthean."

Tommy looks at Lotor like he's stupid. That had to be one of the most ridiculous ideas he's ever heard. "If you harm Hiroki now, Ziggy will turn on you. Your mind might not survive."

There's no emotion to Tommy's words. They simply are stated as if it was common knowledge. To an Anthean who saw the wars he knows what can happen.

While they talk anther apparition appears, another Anthean. This one is female, and unlike Tommy's rather calm presence, hers is angry.

Ziggy wraps his presence around Hiroki as the attack happens, taking part of it himself. He knows his lover can't withstand this.

However, as soon as the entity contacts with them Ziggy clamps down on it's mind and starts crushing in on it. His essence is divided, wrapped around Hiroki to protect and heal and the other part forcing down on the creature's mind like a bear trap slowly tightening. It would with draw, he would fail, or it dies.

In the real world, Ziggy collapses with blood flowing freely from his nose and mouth. The Anthean mind is made for this but the body is not since they have become pacifistic.

Lotor decides to wait for now. This is all a bit intriguing. Perhaps he can ask for explanations later. And if the Witch is involved...

Meanwhile, in the spiritual rwalm, Hiroki's injured from attack, which he probably wouldn't've survived at all if not for Ziggy. And he was ready for that. For the end of existence. So it's not as if he's made any further plans.

He hugs Ziggy, not sure what to do, anymore.

And Ziggy's managed to injure the Dark Entity he's fighting, now also making it very angry.

Suddenly, Hiroki has an idea and whispers to Ziggy, Ziggy. Ziggy, call on Atlas. I really should've told you more, but, call on Atlas. Will come help.

Lotor meanwhile only waits, but also turns curiously to the newcomer.

Though, is that a newcomer if she's not quite here?

"I'll have you know that I, Emperor Lotor, personally have no quarrel with clones," he says, just in case. "If I understand correctly, or can make a guess, this one had been sent, maybe some time ago, to spy on my actions. I bear no responsibility for it."

Edited 2020-08-24 07:05 (UTC)

"We're inside of a building" He tells Hiroki though he does reach out telling it what is happening. Maybe the spirit lion or something would help.

The Anthean won't let go. He crushes down further on the entity with his presence. He's getting tired but uses some of the energy to heal Hiroki anyway. He knows that his spirit doesn't regenerate as quickly.

A red glow appears, large, angry. It too clamps down on the mental portion of the being, digging in and trying to rip pieces out of it. This is mother and these are her children. The fury is purely destructive and much more powerful, older, than Ziggy.

Tommy watches Lotor and wishes he had a drink. "She can't hear you right now." Tommy tells him flatly.

"This clone is a member of our family and we tire of the witch not staying away." That was true for all of them. Maybe he should call Tom to help? He doesn't for the moment, opting to stare at Lotor. "You look like the witch. Are you the same species?"

There is suspicion in those words.

"So you, too, are just going to judge be my species? Everybody does that, you're not original. Though usually by the other half of my halfbreedness."

Lotor smirks.

Shield's back on, fully, letting no emotions through. It's subconscious.

"Yes, the witch happens to be an Altean alchemist. And so am I. There's no relation 'xcept that."

Inside the spiritual Realm, the Dark Entity they're fighting almost disappears after the hit. And at least it no longer looks like anyone. Just a ball of darkness, writhing, and--

and then it multiplies.

Hiroki groans.

"Come on, we need Atlas!"

He's not sure if Ziggy's called him, that is, the robot, Atlas, already.

Maybe not quite, but the White Lion appears, suddenly, and Hiroki sighs with relief. Hiroki also just partly wishes he could just pass out right now, it would be great, if he could. Pass out, or sleep.

"I was only curious." Tommy admits. "I can judge you on your own diplomatic failure of negotiating the fate of a people without their presence."

Tommy's eyes narrow and then he rolls them with a sigh. "Both of you are willing to use others without permission. I see no reason to draw differences."

Aletayria turns on the entities intent on killing them completely. Destruction isn't usual for an Anthean and she will pay the price but these are her children it's attacking.

In the material world Aletayria slumps a little and starts coughing up blood. The penalty for enacting violence.

Ziggy is exhausted and hurting. Outside his body has endured physical damage. In here though, he pours the last of his energy into healing Hiroki of the wounds he has endured. He might not have enough energy to completely heal him but he will be stronger.

He does tell Tommy, in his mind, that they are going to need his father. He and his mother are very ill.

And she destroys some of them.

The remaining entities try now to amalgate into one huge mass. However, the White Lion hunts them down before they can do that.

Aletayria can deal with some, too.

He and Aletayria now managed to destroy all of them here.

Hiroki tries to protest at first when Ziggy heals him, but thinks better of it.

Thank you, he says, with all the affection and worry...

Yes, concern, because he's worried for Ziggy. So, so, so much.

The White Lion looks around. Then conveys to everyone present here that indeed, there are no more intruders left here.

In the physical plane, Lotor lays unconscious Shiro's clone on the floor. He's been holding him upright all this time, but really, there's no reason to do so.

"I only knew what the witch's puppet - as apparently he still is one - has told me. I didn't come here to be insulted. If you do not wish for alliance, I understand."

Ziggy is exhausted and injured but he holds on to Hiroki ready to defend him if he has to. "I will always come for you."

Aletayria calms once she feels the lion's words. She sends an emotional thank you for protecting her children to the lion, hoping it will understand.

Tommy looks at Lotor with a blank and unreadable expression. "I don't know anything about you or your people."

Aletayria shifts and solicits a little more she looks woozy but her first instinct is to check on Ziggy who she knows is exhausted. "The witch might stay away now." She tells both of them.

White understands and nods. Then, he stretches, and disappears, in a flash of light.

In this space, which was very, very dark and empty during the possession and fight, at least some small lights appear. In a moment, they're stars, or something of the kind, on the horizon.

There's a palpable wave of relief.

And then, shame and regret.

"This is all my fault," Hiroki whispers. "Ziggy, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please, forgive me."

In this mind space, as always, the young man has both arms. Right now, he's naked. He hugs Ziggy tightly, like he never wants to let go. And in a moment, he's crying.

"It's all my fault. Ziggy--- Ziggy, you--- you got hurt, because of me."

Hiroki knows Ziggy's gotten hurt, he can feel it.

"How many times are you going to save me?"

He's tried to save Ziggy, but apparently, he couldn't. Couldn't save his Love from danger.

He buries his face in Ziggy's hair. Still crying. He's glowing. Apparently, healing can be done when upset, too.

Though there's also relief.

And in a moment, he looks for mother, for Aletayria, wishing to thank her. Is she still in his mind?

In the physical world, Lotor looks at Tommy carefully and seems to calm down.

"I believe this has all been a setup to breed mistrust between us. I imagine the witch wants us to be at each other's throats. We shouldn't let that happen. Let's begin anew."

He looks at Ziggy. He's quite sure this person's been fighting, now. Although if Haggar had fled, then - whom?

"Are you back?" he asks Ziggy, although he's not sure if Ziggy can hear him.

He means his mind. Narti could be in somebody else's mind and in still in her own as well, conscious of the surroundings, but sometimes, she could be more occupied in somebody else's. Ziggy seems to have been very preoccupied.

"Your husband seems exhausted, but uninjured," Lotor adds, pointing at the clone on the floor.

And if the Emperor's understood the situation correctly, this is surely Ziggy's victory.

"There's nothing to forgive." Ziggy nuzzles into Hiroki and kisses him gently. "I chose to be violent. The injuries are mine."

Most of them, but there had been the scratching or biting or whatever it was the things were trying to do to injure him.

"As many times as I have to?" Ziggy pulls his lover closer. His mother is already there, checking on the boys. Her touch, here in the mind space, warm and comforting. She too is injured but not as much as Ziggy or Hiroki.

"I am here my son." She projects those words only to Hiroki with soft fondness.

Tommy's expression remains neutral. "We have places where she can't see."

The Antheans all know they are dealing with someone who can astral project and has mental abilities similar, but stronger, than their own.

Aletayria touches Lotor's shoulder a strange warm presence with no weight because this is an astral projection. "They won't wake for some time. They've both been injured."

Even Aletayria had been injured, the blood on her face testament to the fact that the fight had been rigorous. "The witch and the darkness have been driven completely out of him this time. I don't suspect she'll come back for awhile."

In the physical reality, Hiroki winces. He doesn't open his eyes yet. He whispers,

"Ziggy. Please, all of you, take care of Ziggy. I've hurt him."

Lotor raises brows at that and looks from Shiro's clone to Ziggy and back. Some confusion on his face. He touches the clone again, checking if he's conscious.

Suddenly, on Lotor's face, Altean markings appear. He is aware of that in a moment, and in a moment, after initial wonder, looks a little upset.

"As if," Lotor mutters, to himself. The Emperor turns back to Tommy, looking almost neautral. The markings still apparent on his cheeks.

"Shhhh." Aletayria is quiet as she speaks. "Ziggy is fine. Tom will be here soon to help since we can't carry you."

Truth is they are both just spirits and even if they were there, too weak to carry someone as heavy as the human. Both of the Antheans notice the glowing marks. In thier own culture it means something different.

"You have visions?" Aletayria asks curiously. Among her own that would be the reason but she knows this man is a different species.

Edited 2020-08-27 06:23 (UTC)

"I don't have visions," the prince replies, as his marks glow a little.

Somewhat bitterly. Though barely any emotions flow through the dark barrier freely shielding his mind and spirit from any who would dare intrude.

"When it comes to alchemy and magic, I haven't been taught the way I should were my Mother still in this world."

He smiles softly.

"Perhaps you could teach me? No, now is not the time, I know."

Hiroki's eyes slowly open. He jerks away from Lotor, almost shrieking.

Then looks at everyone else.

"Ziggy?"

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I woke up for a moment, unrelatedly. Might as well. :) 1/2

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Last tonight. I will next reply... idk, prolly not tomorrow. But soon. XD

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White Lion's been here just a moment ago.

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Also some may sometime notice family resemblance to Honerva. XD They met her.

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