The light of a new era.

(Three days later)

"Urgh. I thought we were over this!" Hammer Strike shouted as he laid in bed.

"It appears not. Although, I do agree with the sentiment. This is very unappealing." Spell Blade agreed from the next bed over.

"Just be glad they let us have a week off again." Spitfire added.

"Why did this happen again?" Night asked.

"Because of our connection to Diego." Shining answered. "He gets hurt, we feel it. He knocks himself out, we get affected too. At least it's not as bad as when he lost his Bayard. We were unconscious for the whole week after that." Shining said.

"Oh yeah. I remember that. It totally sucked." Spitfire said.

"Very much so. Thank goodness for our vice-commanders." Spell Blade announced.

"To the vice-commanders." Hammer said, raising a glass of mineral water.

"To the vice-commanders." Spitfire chorused with her own empty glass.

"Well, the good news is you should be out of here by tomorrow. You're recovering much faster than last time." Nurse Redheart said as she read their conditions on a clipboard.

"Thanks to Diego still having his Bayard and spending all of his time in the quintessence forest. How is the forest, by the way?" Hammer asked.

"Expanding. I got a message from Kolivan and my mother. Since Diego has been amplifying the quintessence to recharge himself, he's been making the forest grow farther." Shining explained.

"That's good. Anything else?" Night asked.

"Nothing worth mentioning." The room fell into a comfortable silence after that.

"Hey, have you guys seen Caulina sparring with some of the guards?" Spitfire suddenly asked.

"Yes. She is quite intriguing." Slash commented.

"At the very least. As Spitfire would put it, she "wiped the floor with them"." Spell said.

"Totally! The way she teleports and hits them without them even knowing? It's awesome!" Spitfire exclaimed.

"Not to mention, an excellent training exercise in resilience and how to face an unpredictable opponent." Night Slash added.

"Yeah. And speaking of unpredictable opponents, what about princess Luna? Ever since she got those darkness powers, she's been wicked!" Spitfire yelled before falling back against her bed, light headed and dizzy.

"But you also have to remember, she was affected as well. Maybe not as much as the five of us or Kolivan but she was affected as well." Spell explained.

"Yeah yeah. This exhaustion is seriously uncool." Spitfire said with her hand held against her temple, cringing in discomfort.

"Thankfully, she hasn't been brought down too much. She still does her princessly duties." Hammer commented.

"Did you just say "princessly"?" Spitfire asked. She would have raised an eyebrow if she had the strength.

"Yes. It fits." Hammer said, crossing his arms sluggishly.

"I do not believe that is a real word." Spell and Night Slash both said.

"Well I think it fits. Hey wait, where is princess Luna anyways? She hasn't checked in on us today." Hammer said.

(The Dagger)

"Commander, are you sure you should be up and about? I must insist that you rest." Luna said.

"You have asked me that 78 times, princess. I told you, I am fine. Galran medicine is very effective." Kolivan reassured her as he looked at the console in front of him. "I am merely editing the designs for a new scout ship the engineers have concocted." Kolivan explained as he typed.

"Really?" Luna asked, looking around his body at the sleek design.

"Yes. Before I led the rebellion, I was chief engineer on one of the empire's warships." Kolivan said.

"Humble beginnings for such an influential man." Luna complimented him.

"Yes. I have always known the value of hard work. More so than most others." Kolivan said as he stepped away from the console.

"But it is always good to know your roots." Luna smiled. Kolivan gave a small grin in response.

"So, have you checked in on him?" Kolivan asked.

"I have. He says that he feels better and should be at full capacity soon. However, he says he has been having trouble sleeping." Luna answered.

"Sleeping? Does he need sleep?" Kolivan asked as he began walking out of the room, Luna following behind.

"He does but not much. He also enjoys it. However, lately he has been having trouble. He says that his sleep has been leaving him restless and that he keeps seeing something he has difficulty describing in his dreams." Luna explained.

"What has he described?"

""Blackness. A pervading blackness that undermines reality. Like a plague that rests under the skin of existence. Filled with nothings and somethings and everythings, all surrounded by bubbles of anything. Like a moonless night forest full of predators that kill reason and prey that defy logic. A Void.". His words, not mine." Luna quoted, Kolivan staring at her with bemusement, completely confused.

"I see why he had difficulty describing it. That very sentence has given me a headache." Kolivan said.

"It gave me a headache as well. I have been trying to see if I can interpret it but I have not found anything." Luna said.

"Best of luck to you. However, I do believe you should go get some sleep, princess." Kolivan said.

"Sleep? I'm fine." Luna denied.

"I can tell you are tired, princess Luna. Go have a rest, you deserve it." Kolivan encouraged.

"Fine. I shall have a rest if you do." Luna countered. Kolivan stared at her for a moment before nodding.

"Very well. Perhaps I am a little tired. Good night princess." Kolivan said, turning and walking towards his quarters.

"Good night, commander." Luna said before sinking into the floor, making her way back to the hangar as a shadow.

(???)

A spider that howls like a wolf cuts through the broken heart, unlocking peace.

The bull that walks like a man bathes in darkness as his eyes light his way.

The monster with radiant wings of darkness surveys his kingdom of trees.

The hound of steel fights against the bearer of destruction.

The god of change travels, searching for a home he cannot find.

The shapeshifter returns to normality, bringing Eden.

The warrior fights in a single moment, never advancing.

The explosion sits calmly and eats, talking to itself and hearing someone else.

The dragon rests, thinking of birds and bloodstained earth.

The refined earth flies through the air in a house of ingenuity as he sits next to the ever burning flame and the shattering sound.

The puppeteer breaks into pieces as the queen plays a game of chess.

The key shines as she prepares for war.

The queen with many hands drinks beside the bull.

The writer dances with the moonlight as the light of darkness shines.

The black sword cuts through death as it journeys among love.

The soul that gleams stares at nature as she sings.

The ring of water ripples as the travelers ride the waves.

A little girl shines like the sun, dripping with rain as she feasts on the flesh of giants.

(The quintessence forest)

I start as I awaken from my strange dream. Looking around in a daze, I see the vibrant trees around me, remembering where I am.
It… it was… just a dream. Just… a dream. Hah… I really hope that stops happening. It's going to… I stop as I sit back down on the tall grass, seeing something sparkling in the brush.
What's that? I think as I reach forward for the item. Wrapping my fingers around it, I pick up the piece of metal. Bringing it to my face, I stare at the small rectangular box. The box flicks open, showing a lit lighter inside.

The flame shines like the sun.

Author's Note

I've returned! Early too!