Allies of the Sun

Chapter 22

     Aspen looked at her sister and wondered if she should tell her everything, or maybe she already knew. Aspen started to tell her everything anyway. She even told her how Ace murdered that poor glow beast infrount of her, why Glimmer hated Jay, and how terrifying the battle was, and she even told her that the man Ace stabbed was trying to take away Lexie.
     Estella listened to all of it while everyone else left to go back, she assumed that they were getting stuff for her too. When she was done talking, Estella said, "It sounds like you've had a pretty rough week."
     "Yeah, but at least I got so many new friends and I got to meet you!" she replied. "Well I'm glad you did," Estella said softly. "What's earth like?" Aspen asked curiously. "I have never been to Earth but I know that it is a lot different from here," she said. "I do know that they have these things called cars!" 
     Aspen looked at her questioningly, "What are cars?" Her sister smiled, "Cars help the humans move around faster, we don't use them because they pollute the planet, and roads take up a lot of space."
     "What's pollution?" Aspen asked. "Well there are many forms of it, but it makes the air quality bad, poisons the oceans, and the gas from cars gets in the air." Estella paused, "did they not teach you that in science?" Aspen shook her head and in the best impression of her teacher, said, "You are a princess, not some common scientist. You will learn edicate, basic knowledge, and if it comes down to it, how to be queen."
     Estella started laughing and Aspen smiled, she had made her sister laugh, she never could have made Alina laugh like that. "I read as much textbooks as I could but there isn't much information about Earth." This was fun but she had to go. "I should go pack now." Estella nodded, "That's probably a good idea, come tell me when you're about to leave."
     "Okay, I'll see you later then," Aspen called as she ran out the door to find her room and shower. It would probably be a while before she got to do that again. She knew they would be sleeping outside. Hopefully, they wouldn't see those flying animals again though.
     After showering and getting a few things together, she went to Sasha's room to meet up with the others. She was very excited and when the others got there, she quickly asked "When are we leaving? Estella told me a bit about Earth and pollution." Gabe seemed confused and asked, "Why pollution?" Aspen explained about cars and how they hurt the planet.
     "Are we gonna die on Earth?!" Gabe asked. "No silly, my sister wouldn't send us to die," Aspen responded, amused. "But she might be Alina!" Gabe exclaimed. "No, she isn't," Aspen said giggling. "For one thing she is taller than Alina, she is nicer too." Sasha laughed at that and Aspen smiled, sometimes when she was with Sasha she wished she was her sister instead of Alina.
    "How will we find the girl my sister was talking about?" She asked. "I think I have an idea of who we're looking for," Jay said unexpectedly. "Really? Who?" Aspen asked, "Remember the girl who kept trying to hit Gabe?" Jay asked her. Sasha gave them a confused look and said "But doesn't everyone hate Gabe, or at least dislike him?"
     "I'm standing right here you know," Gabe said, trying to defend himself. "Yes but she actually tried stabbing him," Jay said, ignoring Gabe. "Oh wait! I remember her!" Aspen said excitedly. "She tried to stab Gabe with a fork! It was funny to watch! I'm glad you didn't get hurt though."
     "So this ancient demon tried to stab him, did she try or did she actually do it?" Sasha asked. Aspen was confused, wasn't this little girl like eight years old? "What do you mean ancient? She was only about seven or eight."
     "To answer the first question, yes she only tried, I flew out of her reach," Gabe said smugly. "And yes she did look to be about seven but she was umm... drinking." Jay nodded, "She didn't look like a demon either, she had demon horns but a fluffy tail."
     "That sounds like her, she is a shapeshifter after all," Sasha said. "Too bad I never got her name," Aspen whined. "Well maybe she didn't want anyone to know she was there," Lexie said. "I don't know, she did make a very big scene and she didn't even try to make it look like she wasn't a shapeshifter" Aspen replied. "True, so what was she doing there?" Lexie asked, also thinking of the answer.
     "There's no use dwelling on things we might never get the answers to," Sasha said, wrapping things up. "But right now we need to say our goodbyes and leave." They went back to the healer's quarters where everyone was waiting. They said bye to Estella and the kind lady who had healed Lexie and started down the tunnel halls with Glimmer in tow. Aspen realized Ace wasn't here but she knew he didn't have to come.
    "Where are Kathrine and William, I haven't seen them at all since we first got here," Aspen asked. Sasha pointed up again, by now Aspen knew what that meant. She started crying again for everyone she had lost. Why did everyone I cared about have to die? It just wasn't fair. She sobbed and Lexie embraced her. Comforted, Aspen cried more softly into Lexie and they kept walking, taking their first steps toward Earth.

A/N: sorry I missed this chapter, I'm uploading edits and "new" chapters at the same time and the chapter numbers are off so I just missed one by accident.
Uploaded: 10/28/24