The Lost Planet of Lustar

They Think I'm a Goddess? Well, Who Am I to Disagree!

Valora pushed through the lush, pink jungle, her gaze flicking over the strange flora that rose around her in shimmering waves of color. Jewel-like leaves sparkled under Lustar’s twin suns, casting rainbow-like shadows on the ground as she wandered deeper into the alien paradise. With no sign of the crystal Sparkles had detected, Valora sighed, glancing down at her teal sword strapped snugly to her hip and the plasma pistol in her hand. She was armed and prepared but entirely unsure of what she was looking for.

"This crystal better be worth it," she muttered, brushing a strand of her sleek black hair from her face. She was already going to miss the galactic party her crush, Prince Kaelan, was hosting that night. She’d spent weeks picking out the perfect outfit, visualizing the look on his face when he’d see her stride in, all confidence and stardust. Now, she was stumbling through a jungle on a detour she hadn’t asked for.

She muttered, “And to think, I could be wowing him with my latest star-metal boots. But nooo…”

As she complained to herself, the sounds of rustling echoed through the trees. She paused, plasma pistol at the ready. From the shadows, figures began to emerge, moving with graceful, fluid steps, their eyes glinting with otherworldly light.

She froze, momentarily taken aback by the sight of them. They were tall, lithe beings with skin that sparkled faintly in the sunlight, dressed in flowing, iridescent robes that shimmered like the surface of a star-lit lake.

Before she could make sense of what she was seeing, the beings moved as one, dropping to their knees in a graceful sweep. They bowed their heads, hands clasped together, and began chanting in a soft, melodic language she couldn’t understand. Their voices rose and fell like a gentle song, each word laced with reverence.

Valora blinked, thoroughly confused but undeniably flattered. She lowered her plasma pistol and placed her free hand on her hip, looking around at the ethereal beings who gazed up at her in awe.

"Oh," she said, waving a hand dismissively, "you like my outfit? Why, thank you!"

She smiled, placing her hands on her hips and striking a pose, one boot angled forward in the soft pink sands. The aliens continued chanting, their words reaching a crescendo, and she decided to try and communicate. With exaggerated gestures, she pointed at herself, then at the jungle, and finally gave a little shrug.

“I, um, come in peace?” she offered, speaking slowly, as if that would help them understand.

The chanting paused, and the aliens exchanged glances. Then, as if interpreting her gestures as sacred signs, they bowed even lower, their gazes fixed on her with newfound reverence.

“Oh,” Valora murmured, trying to hide her amusement. “I must be really doing something right here.”

One of the aliens, taller than the others with robes that shimmered a rich emerald hue, stood and stepped forward. Her face was angular, with large, luminous eyes that seemed to glow from within. She regarded Valora intently, as if trying to communicate something of utmost importance.

The alien, her voice halting as she struggled with the unfamiliar words, spoke in broken English.

“You… are Chosen One,” she said, her tone reverent. “You… come to fulfill… prophecy.”

Valora’s brows shot up in surprise, her lips parting in a delighted smile.

“Oh! Well, I mean, I’m flattered and all,” she said, glancing around at the crowd still kneeling around her. “But prophecy? That’s, um, quite the introduction.”

The alien leader continued, her voice trembling with emotion.

“Prophecy say… Chosen One come from stars… to mate with Eternal Crystal.”

Valora blinked, processing the words with a mixture of shock and amusement.

“To… mate with the Eternal Crystal?” She tried to keep a straight face, but the sheer absurdity of it all was too much. "Well, that’s certainly… a unique proposition."

The leader, whose name Valora now understood to be Zuraya, nodded solemnly, taking Valora’s reaction as an expression of understanding. She gestured to the others, who rose from their kneeling positions, their expressions bright with hope and reverence.

“You fulfill prophecy,” Zuraya continued, a look of awe in her shimmering eyes. “You touch crystal… and open path. Save our world.”

Valora could barely contain a chuckle as she considered the situation. Here she was, stranded on an alien planet, worshipped by a group of stunningly beautiful beings who thought she was some kind of divine savior. The whole thing felt like a ridiculous dream—yet something about it was so wildly exciting, she couldn’t resist playing along. Plus, maybe it was exactly the crystal she was looking for.

“Well, I suppose if I must,” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder with practiced elegance. “Show me to this, uh, Eternal Crystal.”

Zuraya and the others bowed once more before gesturing for Valora to follow. They moved with an elegance and grace that seemed almost supernatural, their robes trailing behind them like whispers of light. Valora fell into step, her plasma pistol tucked safely away, her sword remained on her hip, gleaming in the dappled sunlight.

The aliens guided Valora through the shimmering forest, their graceful figures moving with an otherworldly ease. Eventually the dense foliage opened into a vast clearing. At its center stood a grand palace, unlike anything Valora had seen before.

The structure seemed woven from glass and light, its tall spires reaching skyward, reflecting Lustar’s twin suns in dazzling rainbows that played across the clearing. Crystal bridges arched over flowing streams, and soft, luminous moss covered the ground, giving the entire scene an enchanting, dreamlike quality.

Valora’s eyes widened in wonder as they approached the towering gates, each one adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to shift and dance in the light. She turned to Zuraya, one eyebrow raised.

“So… is the crystal here? Ready for me to do my Chosen One thing?”

Zuraya shook her head, her eyes crinkling with a mysterious smile.

“First, Chosen One, we must feast. It is tradition to honor our savior with a banquet, to share in our bounty and strength.”

Valora couldn’t hide a grin as she brushed her hands along her hips, trying to contain her excitement at the idea of a royal alien feast in a place this stunning. Maybe there would even be a Lustar version of Prince Kaelan here who could sweep her off her feet.

“Well, I suppose I could make a little time for a feast,” she said, pretending to be casual while fighting the urge to skip forward.

Zuraya nodded, a spark of approval in her gaze.

“Come, Chosen One,” she said, motioning toward the massive front gates.

At her signal, the gates swung open, and rows of guards standing at attention bowed low, their heads dipped in silent respect as Valora strode past. They were tall, each one a vision of ethereal beauty and strength. They wore fitted armor crafted from translucent crystal that glowed faintly, and they held sleek, silvery spears adorned with intricate, twisting designs.

Flanked by her alien admirers, Valora entered the palace, ready for the next surprise Lustar had in store.