Star Keepers: Rebirth

Chapter 11

Ursa walks to the creation room, Cygnus's earlier question ringing in her head. How could Hydra have the ability to steal their power in the first place?

"Ursa, ma'am," Hercules said, "many people are frightened over what Hydra has done. They won't listen to me."

Ursa turns and follows Hercules out of the creation room and into the entry room. "Ursa, who were those two?" Someone asks.

"Listen, everyone." She calls, and the murmuring dies down. "Those were the newborns from all those years ago." People gasp at the mention of them. "Unfortunately...Hydra got to Lupus...and killed him." Ursa sighed. "But he will not have died for nothing. We will stop Hydra before he can do any more harm. Please, do not panic. We'll have Hydra in custody very soon, and he will never hurt anyone ever again."

Ursa walks to Lynx's room and closes the door. She sits on the side of his bed and holds his hand. "Lynx, I wish you were here. It's getting harder and harder. I never thought I'd be at odds with Hydra." Ursa huffs. "I suppose it's my fault. I created him to be like this. I was the one who refused to help him when he asked for it." She sniffles. "Now look where we are. You'd know what to do to help calm the people." Ursa lets him go, and walks to her own bedroom.

"Lupus, I'm so sorry." She says. "I should've just trusted Hydra, given him what he wanted...what he needed." Lupus seemed even paler and colder. "I know it doesn't help, but Hydra wasn't always like this." Ursa smiles at a memory. "He was so sweet, he probably would've been your friend." She says. "He used to take me down to earth for dates. We went to Paris, New York, Hong Kong...all over. Usually at night, so he could show me what I created. Used to say I created the Star Keepers for the mortals so they had something to look at up there.

"He never showed any sign of evil in him. Not until I hurt him." Ursa said. "He used to come into the creation room and watch me create Star Keepers. He helped me make quite a few, including Lynx, Hydrus...even Scorpius. This one time, he was helping me create Monoceros, she's a unicorn, by the way. Anyway, we got to the part where we choose an eye color. This was one of Hydra's first time creating, and he accidentally made her eyes rainbow." Ursa chuckles. "So we went ahead and made her hair a match with her eyes, but only the tips. We figured if it were all her hair, that'd be a bit too much.

"Hydra was so nice, he wouldn't want to hurt a fly. He was just very angry recently. Angry at me, and you had to pay for it." Ursa places her hand on Lupus's face. As she wipes away a tear, a thought comes to her mind. She quickly gets up and runs to the creation room, searching through the shelves.

"Where is it? Please tell me we still have some!" She pushes bottles out of the way and spots what she was looking for. "Yes!" She picks up a bottle labeled phoenix tears.

"Excuse me!" She pushes past the people in the entry room, and runs into her room. After unscrewing the cap, she pours a small amount on Lynx and steps back.

For a while, nothing happens. Just as Ursa begins walking out, feeling disappointed, she hears Lynx waking up.

"Lynx?" She says hopefully.

He opens his eyes and blinks a few times, then he frowns. "Ursa?"

She smiles. "Lynx! You're back!"

"How long has it been?" He rubs his head.

"Seventeen years." Ursa responds.

Lynx's mouth drops. "I hope that doesn't count as my vacation."

Ursa laughs and gives him a hug. "It works! It really works! Now for the big test." She leaves the room and Lynx follows.

"What works? What big test?" He asks as he follows her to her room. He gasps when he sees Lupus. "Goodness, Ursa! What happened while I was out?"

"This is Lupus." Ursa said.

Lynx looks to Ursa with pure shock written on his face. "This...is little Lupus?" He places a hand on Lupus's shoulder. "He's all grown up." Lynx smiles fondly. "What's happened to him?"

Ursa sighs. "Hydra."

"When?"

"Just today. But I have phoenix tears, that's what brought you back."

"Yeah, but Ursa, I was still alive. Phoenix tears heal, not...bring the dead back." Lynx said.

"We have to try, Lynx. Cygnus was heartbroken." Ursa said.

"Cygnus." Lynx repeats. "They made it."

"All thanks to you." Ursa smiles. "Let's make sure the last seventeen years weren't for nothing."

Lynx nodded. "Okay. It can't hurt to try."

Ursa takes a deep breath, then sprinkles the rest of the bottle onto Lupus.

Again, nothing for a minute or two. Lynx and Ursa exchange glances. "I'm sorry, Lupus." Ursa says, then they leave the room.

Had they stayed a second longer, they would've seen Lupus's blue eyes pop open.