Chapter 5: The Princess Returns

Leda fought the pull of the crystal as she teleported the others back to Jupiter. Panting for breath, she let the emerald light fade, not noticing the faint lavender glow. Her eyes quickly scanned the chamber, searching for anyone she may have left behind. Her heart fell as her eyes rested on Cassandra.

The soldiers were too stunned to attack the two remaining strangers. Their captain and the mysterious woman sent by the king had both disappeared. These women wielded strong powers. At the Guardian’s glare, many of them turned and fled, quickly followed by their slower fellows.

Wondering if she had the strength to get them both back to Jupiter, Leda tried to walk toward the Guardian. However, she only managed to stumble. With a shake of her head, Cassandra caught her before she hit the floor.

“That was a noble thing to do, Your Highness, but it was also very stupid,” the Guardian chided. “Hope Guardian Teleport!”

Once more, like it have been for decades before, the chamber stood empty.

* * * * *

“Doned esei (Where am I)? Doned mei teneuav (Where have you taken me)?” the captain demanded.

Dido pointedly ignored her as she watched her sister. As she had hoped, Scylla began to moan and fought to open her eyes. Monea and Ren walked over to Ganymede.

“Doned esemi (Where are we)?” Monea asked quietly.

Ganymede looked at her, confusion evident on his face. “I don’t understand.”

Dido immediately looked up. “Monea, mei daceu qeu habeuv (Monea, tell me what you said).”

“Doned esemi?”

“Eseuav ni le paleri caie e le natalei e li (You are on the home planet of the Child of Light),” Dido answered. “Mireuav la derigesa (Watch the captain). No lae refeuav (Don’t let her escape).”

The two immediately walked over to the captain, who merely glared at them. To where could Carina run on an alien planet. The absence of the triple moons of Cignus had convinced her immediately that she no longer home.

Dido glanced at Ganymede. “You still don’t understand her or what I just said, do you?”

He shook his head. “It’s just gibberish to me. What’s going on?”

“They are speaking in the royal or the high language of Cignus,” Dido explained. “But they spoke that to us when we were on Cignus and you were able to understand them then. I wonder why you can’t now.”

“Leda,” Ganymede stated. “I was always with Leda when I understood the others.”

Dido nodded, relieved by the explanation. “With the close bond between you two, it would make sense that her powers would allow both of you to understand what the rest of us were saying.”

“It would also explain why we couldn’t read the runes on the walls, but the rest of you could,” he added.

“It does, indeed.”

At that moment, a flash of lavender light appeared. Its intensity immediately blinded everyone in the group. Just as quickly as it had appeared, the light vanished, leaving Cassandra and Jupiter Moon.

“Esi reima veneuav (It’s time that you showed up),” Ren muttered, earning a glare from both Monea and the Guardians.

“Leda, are you okay?” Ganymede asked, hugging her.

“I’m fine, Paul,” she replied, hugging him just as tightly. “The crystal took a lot of me, but that’s all. How’s Scylla?”

Dido rose to her feet, still holding her sister. “She’ll come to in a little while. What are we going to do with the captain?”

Cassandra gave them an enigmatic smile. “I have a few ideas.”

“Then she is your responsibility,” Jupiter Moon said. “Come on, everyone. We need to see how Jupiter has fared during our absence.”

* * * * *

Like the others, Leda was surprised by the amount of activity in the medical wing. Nurses, aides, and some of the regular palace staff were moving both patients and equipment in a hurried manner. As her hand rested on the top of her bag, Leda’s resolve solidified.

“Scylla, how are you feeling?” she asked, with a broad grin.

The Guardian of Mercy was still rubbing the growing purple spot on her jaw, a reminder of the brief battle on Cignus. “Pretty good, considering. Just remind not to tangle again with Dido any time soon.”

Dido gave a snort. “It brought you to your senses.”

“More like the crystal did,” Scylla replied, continuing the banter.

“Girls, enough,” Cassandra said. However, the rebuke had no real heat. From the twins’ matching grins, apparently they had heard that plenty of times.

Despite herself, Leda smiled as well. “Scylla, are you up to performing a miracle?” she asked, lifting the strap of her bag for emphasis.

Scylla immediately sobered. “Do you have the manual and the required herbs?”

“She does,” Cassandra answered. “I or Iphigenia will assist you.”

“I’ll need Iphigenia,” Scylla stated. “She will be easier to draw from than you would be, Cassandra.”

“To draw from?” Leda asked.

“The cure is very difficult,” Scylla began, “and very draining to execute. It requires almost all the energy of the primary performer. If I am going to do it fully, I will need additional energy. Since I am so close to Dido, she would be the easiest person to draw from, but I will need her to act as my assistant and as a possible back up. Therefore, that leaves Iphigenia and Cassandra to act as the source.”

“When you did the cure before, during your training,” Leda let her voice trail off.

Scylla simply nodded, her eyes briefly haunted with old memories before clearing. “Yes, I served as the source, and I swear that I will not harm Iphigenia in any way if I can help it.”

“I hope you do,” Leda replied.

Cami walked by the group, oblivious to her surroundings as she flipped through a chart.

“Is there something we should know about, Cami?” Leda asked.

The Mercurian froze for a moment before turning around. Her jaw dropped as she thankfully viewed the group before her. “Leda, are you really back?”

“Yes, Cami,” the Princess said, “I’ve finally returned.”


The Princess Returns Leda fought the pull of the crystal as she teleported the others back to Jupiter. Panting for breath, she let the emerald light fade, not noticing the faint lavender glow. Her eyes quickly scanned the chamber, searching for anyone she may have left behind. Her heart fell as her eyes rested on Cassandra. The soldiers were too stunned to attack the two remaining strangers. Their captain and the mysterious woman sent by the king had both disappeared. These women wielded strong powers. At the Guardian’s glare, many of them turned and fled, quickly followed by their slower fellows. Wondering if she had the strength to get them both back to Jupiter, Leda tried to walk toward the Guardian. However, she only managed to stumble. With a shake of her head, Cassandra caught her before she hit the floor. “That was a noble thing to do, Your Highness, but it was also very stupid,” the Guardian chided. “Hope Guardian Teleport!” Once more, like it have been for decades before, the chamber stood empty. * * * * * “Doned esei (Where am I)? Doned mei teneuav (Where have you taken me)?” the captain demanded. Dido pointedly ignored her as she watched her sister. As she had hoped, Scylla began to moan and fought to open her eyes. Monea and Ren walked over to Ganymede. “Doned esemi (Where are we)?” Monea asked quietly. Ganymede looked at her, confusion evident on his face. “I don’t understand.” Dido immediately looked up. “Monea, mei daceu qeu habeuv (Monea, tell me what you said).” “Doned esemi?” “Eseuav ni le paleri caie e le natalei e li (You are on the home planet of the Child of Light),” Dido answered. “Mireuav la derigesa (Watch the captain). No lae refeuav (Don’t let her escape).” The two immediately walked over to the captain, who merely glared at them. To where could Carina run on an alien planet. The absence of the triple moons of Cignus had convinced her immediately that she no longer home. Dido glanced at Ganymede. “You still don’t understand her or what I just said, do you?” He shook his head. “It’s just gibberish to me. What’s going on?” “They are speaking in the royal or the high language of Cignus,” Dido explained. “But they spoke that to us when we were on Cignus and you were able to understand them then. I wonder why you can’t now.” “Leda,” Ganymede stated. “I was always with Leda when I understood the others.” Dido nodded, relieved by the explanation. “With the close bond between you two, it would make sense that her powers would allow both of you to understand what the rest of us were saying.” “It would also explain why we couldn’t read the runes on the walls, but the rest of you could,” he added. “It does, indeed.” At that moment, a flash of lavender light appeared. Its intensity immediately blinded everyone in the group. Just as quickly as it had appeared, the light vanished, leaving Cassandra and Jupiter Moon. “Esi reima veneuav (It’s time that you showed up),” Ren muttered, earning a glare from both Monea and the Guardians. “Leda, are you okay?” Ganymede asked, hugging her. “I’m fine, Paul,” she replied, hugging him just as tightly. “The crystal took a lot of me, but that’s all. How’s Scylla?” Dido rose to her feet, still holding her sister. “She’ll come to in a little while. What are we going to do with the captain?” Cassandra gave them an enigmatic smile. “I have a few ideas.” “Then she is your responsibility,” Jupiter Moon said. “Come on, everyone. We need to see how Jupiter has fared during our absence.” * * * * * Like the others, Leda was surprised by the amount of activity in the medical wing. Nurses, aides, and some of the regular palace staff were moving both patients and equipment in a hurried manner. As her hand rested on the top of her bag, Leda’s resolve solidified. “Scylla, how are you feeling?” she asked, with a broad grin. The Guardian of Mercy was still rubbing the growing purple spot on her jaw, a reminder of the brief battle on Cignus. “Pretty good, considering. Just remind not to tangle again with Dido any time soon.” Dido gave a snort. “It brought you to your senses.” “More like the crystal did,” Scylla replied, continuing the banter. “Girls, enough,” Cassandra said. However, the rebuke had no real heat. From the twins’ matching grins, apparently they had heard that plenty of times. Despite herself, Leda smiled as well. “Scylla, are you up to performing a miracle?” she asked, lifting the strap of her bag for emphasis. Scylla immediately sobered. “Do you have the manual and the required herbs?” “She does,” Cassandra answered. “I or Iphigenia will assist you.” “I’ll need Iphigenia,” Scylla stated. “She will be easier to draw from than you would be, Cassandra.” “To draw from?” Leda asked. “The cure is very difficult,” Scylla began, “and very draining to execute. It requires almost all the energy of the primary performer. If I am going to do it fully, I will need additional energy. Since I am so close to Dido, she would be the easiest person to draw from, but I will need her to act as my assistant and as a possible back up. Therefore, that leaves Iphigenia and Cassandra to act as the source.” “When you did the cure before, during your training,” Leda let her voice trail off. Scylla simply nodded, her eyes briefly haunted with old memories before clearing. “Yes, I served as the source, and I swear that I will not harm Iphigenia in any way if I can help it.” “I hope you do,” Leda replied. Cami walked by the group, oblivious to her surroundings as she flipped through a chart. “Is there something we should know about, Cami?” Leda asked. The Mercurian froze for a moment before turning around. Her jaw dropped as she thankfully viewed the group before her. “Leda, are you really back?” “Yes, Cami,” the Princess said, “I’ve finally returned.”


Chapter 6: Miscalculations Jupiter's Gone