(ROUGH DRAFT) Endless Sky ~Elemental Chaos~

Chapter Eleven

Lucerne listened carefully as Renny retold all she knew. Avaro occasionally adding in his own thoughts, which most of the time his friend just shushed him.
Halfway through Sunset returned, but Avaro no longer felt the urge to kill her.
Didn't mean he liked the old cat.
He still gave her glares when she spoke.
By the time the two finished, Avaro could tell the Celestial Beast was swimming in questions.
"So that's why the world felt strange! It's not real! So how are there animals?" he asked first, eyes glittering.
"Came with the elementals when they went back. Zeru's ancestors had a stash of food made to allow the animals to adjust and repopulate when released," Sunset answered. "The Gantianits, Lieprocens, all of them. Came from the intended home of the elementals."
Lucerne nodded, understanding while Avaro had no clue what a Lieprocen is.
"Why did the elementals listen though? They were happy! Right?" the celestial continued, frowning.
"Of course they were, but naieve as well. They only just got their bodies and more knowledge. Those pink beasts knew and exploited that," Sunset scoffed, looking through some vials before taking a red one to drink.
"You make it seem like Zeru and them aren't even elementals," Avaro huffed, watching as Renny took the now empty vial to clean later.
"What element are they?" The old cat shot back.
Avaro opened his mouth to reply, then stopped. It never occurred to him. He had no idea what element Zeru was. He had no third eye so he wasn't a prophet and no muddy colors of a Wild cat. Even down to the elements he had no fins for water, no heat for fire, no bulky figure or flowers for earth. Not even wings for wind or spikey fur for electricity. Nothing. Avaro could almost assume he was a cross breed with a bright prophet and maybe another elemental equally as bright.
"But that wouldn't explain Bob unless they were related, which would make Fuchsia and Stripe's kits inbread,"
Sunset caught onto his silence and laughed. "Can't think of anything can you? He's so good at being so obvious but also so recluded that no one even realizes he's not related to anyone there," she sneered.
"Alright then what is he?" Avaro snapped, not liking the mocking look she waa giving him.
Sunset examined her paw as if bored.
"A dying parasite, there used to be about fifty of them when they took the elements away, how many are left now?" She asked, directing her attention to Lucerne.
"Six," he responed.
"Tsk, at least the elementals didn't die as fast as them. Let me guess, there's only one compatible pair?"
Lucerne nodded. "They're our friends..." He said with discomfort. Realizing that Sunset just called them parasites.
"Shame they couldn't die off before the world was to collapse," Sunset sighed.
Avaro saw red as he got up, furious.
"You never met them! How can you be so sure they're the scum of the multiverse?!" He demanded, tempted to just pounce. Lucerne had got up as well, reaching to grab Avaro's arm, ready to hold him back.
Sunset shrugged, inconvenienced by the dragon's hostility. Renny looking nervous nearby, most likely afraid of a fight trashing all the glass objects around.
"You don't know nothing do you?!" He hissed, Lucerne tugging on his arm a bit.
"And I suppose you do?" Sunset responded, staring directly into Avaro's eyes. He glared back, his mind whirring. Most things said made sense, but he hated the fact it puts Fuchsia's family in a bad light. The two poor kits who weren't even a year old yet, how would they know how to be sneaky and manipulative? Rose couldn't even say his name right.
"I at least know who my friends are," Avaro snarled, watching as the old elemental glance at Lucerne.
"Maybe some, but not all, you never truly know someone unless they're you," Sunset said, getting to her paws.
Avaro hissed, but knew there was truth to her words. Sure he knew Lucerne well, but there was certainly things he didn't know about. Things the celestial never told him. Just as Avaro had things he would never tell Lucerne. It's normal. Not everything is meant to be said and known.
"I'm getting a snack," Sunset meowed unexpectedly before leaving. Leaving Avaro furiously standing there, lost with his friend tightly gripping his arm.
"Err, well. Should I get something for you two to eat?" Renny offered to beak the silence.
"That'll be nice," Lucerne quickly answered, nodding.
Renny took the chance to escape and leave the room after Sunset, promising to bring back something good.
There was silence for a few moments as Lucerne slowly let go of Avaro's arm.
"Do you actually believe them?" The albino asked, not taking his eyes off the door.
"I mean... It makes sense I guess," his friend answered honestly, shuffling his feet.
Avaro sighed and sat down on the floor, defeated.
"But nothing ever looked bad. Everything seemed normal, like a normal village," he said, staring at the floor.
"Well that's because they have no idea there's something better. I'm sure you miss Roxxan's cooking, but would you still miss it if you never had it in the first place?" Lucerne asked, sitting down as well.
"No, of course not. How can I miss something I never had?"
"Exactly, thats the case of the elements. They see that small place as home without knowing there's something better," the celestial explained.
"So we just have to show them a better place?" Avaro questioned, looking up.
Lucerne nodded with a small smile.
"Sounds easier said than done, what would Zeru even think?" The dragon huffed, crossing his arms.
Lucerne winced and looked away. "Well... I was thinking... We shouldn't tell him anything," he admitted.
"What?! Why?!" Avaro cried.
"Because it would be hard to explain that we met Sunset, a supposed murderer, and listened to her story instead of restraining her to take her back,," Lucerne said. "And he wouldn't be too happy for us to basically tell him his species sucks and ruined the lives of many and put a bunch in danger," he added.
"Well, we dont have to tell him those things then," Avaro replied, slightly annoyed.
"There's only so much we can take out before the story gets confusing. He'll ask questions we wont be able to answer and put suspicion on us. I don't think we should risk it for now," Lucerne sighed, looking as if he didn't like to annoy Avaro. But also couldn't just let him do whatever he wanted.
"This means we cant tell Fuchsia and Stripe either, does it?"
Lucerne shook his head slowly. "Even if they were elementals or Wild or even prophets, they're newly made parents. They don't need that extra stress," he pointed out as well.
Avaro sighed, defeated. "So that just leaves Spike doesn't it?" He asked.
Again, Lucerne nodded. "She's old enough and close enough to us to listen, I'm sure she'll understand,"
"Alright.." Avaro agreed, shaking his wings a bit and pulling them closer. There was a lot he wanted to disagree on, to prove false, to ignore. But he knew it would do no good, he couldn't think rationally enough to make the right decisions.
"But Lucerne can," he thought. "In fact, he's stopped me from doing tons of bad decisions. I'll probably be dead or hated by everyone if it wasn't for him."
The odd yet familiar twang flicked in his chest. Something he's felt periodically shortly after he made it to OCTown. Avaro ignored it, assuming his body is just reacting to something. Like a stomach growling when hungry.
Together they chatted quietly, discussing ideas and plans. Trying to figure out a way to work around Zeru, not planning to outright scream their allegiance to Sunset.
Renny came back after nearly a half an hour, a large tray full of a variety of snacks in her hands.
"Sorry it took awhile! We were trying to get a bit of everything so you're bound to find something to your taste," she said as she walked over to the two. Setting down the tray in front of them.
"I can't stay long, just scream if you need me. Well... scream my name, don't just scream. I'll think you're dying," Renny quickly added with a nervous chuckle. "We will, thank you," Lucerne responded as the woman quickly left.
Avaro looked down at the platter, realizing Renny wasn't kidding about getting a bit of everything. Avaro saw fish bites, cheese on crackers, fruit kabobs, veggie sticks, even things Avaro has never seen before. Most likely native to whatever universe this was.
"Wow, honestly I could eat some of all of this," Avaro commented, taking a fish bite to eat. He was disappointed nothing was raw besides the sushi, but it was alright. It all still looked and assumed to taste good.
"You would eat anything," Lucerne laughed in response, taking a cheese cracker for himself.
"Hey! Just because I ate a slug once doesn't mean everything's on the menu!" He protested, pouting as Lucerne tried to not spew cracker crumbs from his mouth.
Things felt calmer now as they ate, more relaxed and certainly grateful for something with flavor. Avaro could tell Lucerne would chose fruit and veggies over unseasoned meat any day. As a dragon, Avaro would have to stick to raw meat.
It didn't take long for the tray to be emptied. Nothing but crumbs and sticks left over.
"When are those two, or at least one of the two, coming back?" Avaro asked as he used a toothpick to get some meat out of his teeth.
"Hopefully soon. But I cant blame them for being gone. They must be discussing what to do with us and the elements," Lucerne answered as he checked his clothes for crumbs to brush off.
"You make it sound like we're prisoners," the dragon commented, putting the toothpick on the tray.
"I mean that they're trying to figure out how to work with us. They obviously cant just walk around the village with us," the Celestial Beast corrected. "Renny might," Avaro pointed out.
Lucerne opened his mouth to respond, yet nothing came out. He closed it and thought for a moment.
"You're not wrong. Zeru only knows about Sunset," he finally said after a few seconds. "And it wouldn't be hard for us to claim shes a new friend of ours. He welcomed OStar rather easily," Avaro added, grinning and feeling proud.
"We'll just have to make sure Renny doesn't have any Sunset scents. Humans may not have a strong sense of smell, but cats do," Lucerne quickly reminded, making Avaro's accomplishment feeling a little deflated.
"That shouldn't be hard, right?"
"Of course not, just clean everything and make sure its either washed or masked. Perfume should work," Lucerne responded, thoughtful.
"I don't think she's someone who even has perfume," Avaro blankly stated.
"Well that's a harsh assumption. You don't seem like someone who owns colonel but I smelt it on you before," his friend huffed.
Avaro ruffled his wings and shook his head. "I wore it like, twice. And hated both times. I don't know why people use it," he said with a grumble.
"It smells better than sweat at least, and not all are bad,"
"Says the person whos never used any,"
"We don't need them! Our bodies and clothes can naturally keep clean! Of course an occasional shower is refreshing, but its rare to have a celestial reek of foul odor," Lucerne quickly protested. "Alright alright sure, I believe it," Avaro replied honestly. Lucerne had always had a strange scent, assuming he hadn't washed recently, he always had a odd smell that made Avaro think of stars. It never smelt like any normal smell. The closest he could describe it was minty.
"You should bathe more," Lucerne unexpectedly requested. "With what shower?!" Avaro cried as he waved his arms. His friend just stared at him, a glint in his eyes. He was just joking around.
"Oh fuck off," Avaro dismissed, but couldn't help breaking out a smile.
"Really! You're always sweaty!"
"Am not,"
"Are too! All that flying around!"
"You smell like grass and roof tiles with how often you lay on them at night,"
Lucerne made a fake offended gasp. Both staying in silence for a few seconds before laughing.
Avaro couldn't be more grateful for a friend like Lucerne.