by Kate O'Hearn
“His powers are working!” Astraea cheered. “Jupiter is destroying Mimic Shadow Titans!”
“Yes, but look how many Shadows are going after him,” Tryn cried.
As they flew over the battle, the fighting became more intense and violent. While Jupiter fired at the Shadows in front of him, others attacked from behind and he was knocked to the ground.
“Jupiter’s in trouble!” Tryn cried. “We have to help him!”
“No! We will go,” Pegasus whinnied as he swooped down from above. “Zephyr, Tryn, stay up here where it is safe. Use your weapons against the Mimics, but do not go down there!”
Minerva was seated on the stallion’s back. They landed in the large group of Shadow Titans attacking Jupiter. While Minerva slid off his back and used her sword, Pegasus started to buck and kick the ferocious fighters to pieces.
“Wow, look at him go,” Zephyr said. “He’s good.”
“So are you,” Astraea said. Within minutes, Pegasus, Minerva, and Jupiter had managed to destroy most of the Shadows attacking them. But the orchard was filled with hundreds more, as well as the Mimics controlling them.
The most powerful Olympians and Titans were able to gain some wins against the invaders, but the sheer number of Shadow Titans and Mimics was making progress difficult.
Tryn looked back at his sister. “Triana, turn around on the board and sit down. I don’t want you falling off while we fight. We must go for the Mimics and get their controllers. It’s the only way to defeat them.”
Triana did as Tryn asked and sat down on the back of the board so she could fire her slingshot without needing to hold on to her brother.
Astraea was using her own slingshot when she saw Cupid soaring across the sky above the battle. He was dipping down close to the fight, then back up before the Mimics’ tendrils could reach him.
“I wish my wings were bigger,” she sighed. “I could be doing that too.”
“You’re fine right where you are,” Zephyr said.
As they flew over the battle, shooting all the Mimics they could hit, Astraea thought she would have been prepared for this. But she wasn’t. The orchard was a gruesome battleground. Titans and Olympians were fighting side by side. Centaurs, satyrs, and other beings of all shapes and sizes. Her eyes also landed on a group of silver Rheans. They were wielding swords and using their strength against the Shadow Titans. The Rheans were morally opposed to violence, but since the Shadows weren’t alive, they were able to fight them, leaving the Mimics to be fought by the Titans and Olympians.
When a Mimic went down, a fighter ran forward, pulled the Shadow Titan controller from the goo, and turned the invaders’ Shadows against them.
Although many Mimics were being defeated, a great number of defenders were also falling beneath their tendrils. As Astraea watched, Hercules was felled by two tendrils from the same Mimic. Astraea hoped he and the others were only stunned, but based on the brutality she was witnessing, she couldn’t be certain.
“It’s a slaughter down there,” Zephyr cried.
“There are just too many—we have to take out the Mimics to stop the Shadows! Stay up high, Zeph. I don’t what you hit by a tendril.”
“Well, it’s not on my list of things to do today, so yes, I’m staying way up high.”
Astraea focused on one Mimic at a time as she drew back the slingshot and fired. Each pebble she shot passed through a Mimic, and they started to melt. But there was no time to celebrate—there were too many others down there.
It seemed to take the better part of the afternoon to finally get on top of all the Mimics and Shadow Titans trying to destroy the orchard. More kept coming through the Solar Stream, but soon the Titans had an army of Shadows on their side that were able to drive back the invaders and defend the nectar trees.
By the time the sun had crossed the sky and was starting to descend, the remaining Mimics had been reduced to puddles, and their Shadow Titans were being taken by the defenders. There were no cheers, no celebrations. The exhausted fighters simply put away their weapons and carried the fallen away from the orchard, back to the temple.
Guards were posted to keep watch on the trees, with a full complement of Shadow Titans ready to defend against further attacks. Everyone knew it wasn’t the best fix and that there would be more battles. The Mimics didn’t seem to care if they were killed. They fought down to the last, every time.
When Zephyr landed and walked with the others, Astraea sighted her mother waiting to greet the returning fighters. She had been badly hurt on Earth when she’d been struck by a police car—it was only getting her to Arious that had saved her life.
“Mom!” Astraea slid off Zephyr’s back and ran to her mother. Throwing her arms around Aurora, Astraea never wanted to let her go. “I’m so glad you’re all right!”
“I am fine,” Aurora said softly into Astraea’s hair. “I saw you and Zephyr out there. You were so brave.” She released Astraea and put her arms around Zephyr’s neck. “I couldn’t be prouder of the both of you.”
“We just did what we could,” Zephyr said.
“Which was more than I could have ever dreamed,” Pegasus said, clopping up to them. Minerva was no longer with him. “You flew very skillfully, Zephyr; I too am proud of you.”
Astraea watched Zephyr shuffle on her hooves. Though her best friend would never admit it, she was flattered by Pegasus’s compliment.
When Tryn and Triana arrived, Aurora embraced them too. “You were all so brave.”
Astraea noted that the haunted expression was back on Tryn’s face. He’d done what was necessary to protect the orchard. But it was taking a terrible toll on him. Triana appeared to be dealing with the battle much better.
Astraea stepped closer to Tryn and whispered, “I know how you are feeling, but the Mimics aren’t giving us any choice. We have to fight to defend our worlds, or they will destroy us.”
He smiled at her, but it was still shadowed. “I just never thought I would ever see war. It is more terrible than I imagined. So many were hurt and killed.”
Astraea nodded. “I know. I can hardly remember what my life was like before the Mimics.”
“That is why we try our best to avoid conflict,” Pegasus said. “I have seen far too many battles in my life. But this fight is not over yet. I fear the worst is yet to come.…”
Astraea knew what Pegasus meant. They would soon leave to go to the Mimic world to try to rescue everyone that the Mimics had taken. But with the Mimics attacking Xanadu so often, they hadn’t been able to go.
They walked back to the temple to find Jupiter and Juno calling everyone forward. Jupiter’s fight with the Shadows had left him with a deep wound on his arm and face. Juno was nursing a fair few wounds of her own.
Tryn’s parents were also at the gathering. Astraea noted that Tryn’s mother had the same haunted expression as Tryn. When she embraced her children, silver tears trickled down her cheeks.
It was then that Astraea noticed how many Rhean fighters there had been. Granted, they’d mainly fought the Shadow Titans, but they had fought, which went against everything they believed.
Cylus clopped up to Astraea with Darek, Render, and more of his herd just behind him. Astraea was stunned when Cylus put his arm around her shoulders. “Saw you and Zephyr in the sky shooting those goo-filled monsters. Well done.”
“Uh, thanks, Cylus. We just did what we could.”
“Shooting from the sky is definitely the best way to get them,” Render said. “It makes me want to fly even more. I could have taken out so many that way.”
Cylus turned quickly to him and looked like he was going to say something curt, but then nodded. “Me too, I guess. It’s the safest way.” He looked back at his herd. “All of you fought well on the ground. You melted loads of those squishy liquid bags.”
Astraea realized that Cylus had been a lot nicer lately and his change of attitude was working. More people spoke to him and included him in their conversations and plan
s. At one point, his mother came up to her and said she was grateful for the change of demeanor she’d started to see in her son and hoped it would continue.
Astraea did too.
“But,” Cylus continued softly, “we’ve got to get to the Mimic home world soon if we want to save Jake and the others.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Astraea said.
Further conversation was cut off as Jupiter climbed painfully onto a quickly erected platform. Astraea noticed a tiny dot of light beside him and recognized it as Arious Minor, the mobile version of the supercomputer.
Jupiter raised his hands to gain everyone’s attention.
“My friends and family, this has been a very difficult day with many losses. But we managed to defend our precious nectar orchard. The Mimic attacks are happening more frequently now and are much bolder. I have discussed this with Arious, who has had experience with these creatures for millennia. She fears the time of a great spawning is upon us. She says the Mimics see us as a threat, and as such, they are increasing their attacks to keep us occupied while the Mimic nation spreads.”
“How can we stop them?” called Venus. She was standing beside her son, Cupid. “There are too many and we too few.”
Jupiter lowered his head. “It is doubtful we can stop them. But perhaps we can slow them down. Right now, we are a divided people. We have our fighters here with the snakes and weapons that do work, but there are even more on Titus whom we could use and provision.
“Those of us that can still fight will return to Titus tomorrow. The time has come for us to reclaim our world.”
Astraea had heard Jupiter talking about only saving Titus before, when he and Pegasus had been arguing. She believed Jupiter was wrong. They should have been looking to take on the Mimics on their home world. Perhaps even stopping the queen from spawning. Going to Titus would only delay the inevitable invasion.
Astraea was about to raise her arm and speak, when Pegasus put his muzzle on her shoulder lightly. “Say nothing, Astraea. Jupiter’s mind is set. He will follow his plan; we have our own.”
Without looking back at the stallion, Astraea nodded. “It’s time, isn’t it?”
Pegasus said nothing as Jupiter continued speaking about the return journey. When he finished, he stepped down. There was agreement with the plan, but gone was the normal enthusiasm for one of his speeches. Everyone knew deep in their hearts that they were fighting a losing battle.
Pegasus whispered to Astraea, “Yes, Astraea, it is time.”
5
JAKE BROKE THE SURFACE OF the water and started to cough.
“Are you all right?” Angie called.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Jake cleared his throat. The water was warm and sweet on his lips. “Well, at least it’s not acid,” he said. He swam around the second wreck and over to the boat with the intact hull.
His arms felt heavy as he reached for the side and hauled himself aboard. When he was lying across the deck of the boat, he looked back to Angie.
“Try coming over. I don’t want you in the water if you don’t have to be.”
Angie nodded. She looked at the route Jake had taken and started to follow. Halfway there, she reached down and broke a large plank off the side of the rotted hull, then walked back the way she’d come.
“What are you doing?” Jake asked.
“I’m making a ramp for the snakes.”
Jake realized that was why she was a snake charmer. She was even more considerate of the snakes than he was. He hadn’t thought how they were going to get over.
Before long, all the snakes were sliding across the board and onto the first wreck. When they were safe, Angie lifted the board and carried it carefully to the other side to reach the second boat. She lightly hopped over the area that had given way under Jake’s weight and made it to the second wreck. As the snakes followed, Jake called, “Angie, hurry up. It’s getting dangerously light out.”
“I am,” she said. After laying down the board for the snakes to cross onto the intact boat, Angie leaped gracefully into the air and landed on the deck beside Jake.
“That—was—cool,” Jake said. “Wish I could do that.”
Angie grinned at the compliment. “Thank you.”
Together they made their way toward the back of the boat.
“Hurry, Jake,” Nesso called. “The sssmell of Mimicsss isss getting much ssstronger. They are near.”
Jake didn’t need to be told twice to move. “Nesso says the Mimics are around us. We have to hurry.”
Angie nodded and moved with an ease and grace that Jake envied. She made it to the back of the boat before him. “There’s a hatchway here.”
“Can you open it?” he asked.
Angie reached for a handle on the hatch. It was stiff, but with a bit of prying, she got it open. After peering down, she looked at Jake and nodded. “There’s no water in there, and it looks comfortable and big enough for all of us.”
“Everyone, down into the boat,” Jake called.
The snakes slithered forward and slid down into the cavity below the deck. Angie followed them. Jake stayed on deck a moment longer to ensure they left no clues of their hiding place. He looked around and didn’t see any Mimics either. Hoping they were safe, he climbed down the steps and closed the hatch, but left it open a tiny slit to allow the light in when the sun came up.
It was pitch-black belowdecks. “I can’t see a thing,” he said softly. “Can you?”
“Yes,” Angie answered. “Keep walking straight; all the snakes are here with me.”
Jake followed Angie’s instructions until she told him he could sit. He hesitantly sat down and was surprised to find the seat cushioned.
“What’s it like in here?” he whispered.
“It’s lovely,” Angie said. “Like a little house. We’re in the kitchen area. There are chairs and a table. We’re on a bench near the table. Across from us I can see some cupboards too. There’s even a small sink. Farther back are beds with covers. The fabric looks a bit rotten, but otherwise, it’s all very comfortable.”
The way Angie described it was like the canal boats they’d seen in Bruges. His family had even had lunch on one that cruised around.
“I wonder if the engines still work,” Jake said.
“I don’t know,” Angie said. “I can’t see anything mechanical in here.”
“I can’t see anything at all!” Jake said. “You said there were beds?”
“Yes, at the back.”
Jake started to yawn. “I don’t know about you, but I am so tired right now, I can hardly keep my eyes open.”
“Me too,” Angie agreed. “I couldn’t sleep in that cage. Do you want me to lead you to the beds?”
Jake held on to Angie’s arm as she led him to the sleeping area. The boat was much longer than Jake had realized, and the ceiling was too high for him to reach.
“I really should keep watch,” Jake said as he sat down on the edge of the bed. The cushion beneath him was soft, and even though the rotted fabric tore apart in his hands, it didn’t smell musty at all. “But I’m too tired.”
“Me too,” Angie said.
Jake could hear her moving around but couldn’t see her. He also heard the soft slithering sounds of the snakes following her farther back.
“We will keep watch,” Nesso said softly. “You and Angie sssleep. If anyone comesss, we will wake you.”
Jake repeated Nesso’s message to Angie. But he doubted she heard, as it sounded like she was already asleep. Lying down on the soft bunk, it wasn’t long before he joined her.
* * *
Jake awoke with a sudden fright and couldn’t see anything even though his eyes were open. “Nesso?” he called into the darkness.
“I am here,” Nesso responded. “Lower your voiccce. Mimicsss are not far away.”
Everything rushed back to him. He was on the Mimic world, hidden in a boat with a Titan he called Angie. Snakes were with them. He raised his head and looked
toward the hatch. A bright slit of sunlight was pouring down through the half-closed hatch and illuminating the snakes on the steps leading up.
“Are we safe?” he asked softly.
“Yesss,” Nesso said. “There are Mimicsss on the water’sss edge, but we don’t think they know we are here. Their voicccesss are normal and come and go. We have heard no ssshouting or alarmsss. But we mussst be careful. If they can’t sssee well, they might have excccellent hearing.”
“How long have I been asleep?” Jake whispered.
“A very long time. You are right. The sssun doesss move ssslowly here. Much ssslower than on my world.”
“Is Angie still asleep?”
“Yesss. Mossst of the othersss are with her. Ssshe hasss bad dreamsss, jussst like you. When ssshe criesss out, we wake her.”
Jake’s dream before waking had been a nightmare, but it was nothing compared to what his reality was now. “Let her sleep.”
Part of him wanted to go forward to peek out the hatch, but caution told him not to. He didn’t even want to move on the bed in case it rocked the boat. But lying there knowing that somewhere on this world other Titans were being held and maybe tortured left him wanting to do something. Anything. But all he could do was lie still and wait for the darkness.
Then what? What was he going to do? Yes, they’d found a place to hide. But they needed food. They couldn’t last forever. They probably had water, because he’d swallowed mouthfuls when he’d fallen off the wreck beside this boat, and he was still feeling all right.
Food was now the big worry. Even more so for Angie. She needed ambrosia and nectar, and he was sure the Mimics wouldn’t have any here.
“Ssshe isss awake,” Nesso said softly.
Moments later, Jake heard soft movement. He sat up and felt Angie sit beside him. She didn’t say a word. She just took his hand and settled down to wait for the sun to set.
Jake and Angie spent the better part of the long day watching the crack of sunlight from the hatch. It took ages for the spear of light to creep across the steps and finally vanish into the shadows. It took even longer for it to fade into complete darkness.