A Love That Destroyed Time

by Melanie Ray

  Becca looked down at her dress. “Thank you.” She looked back at Wye. “Have I seen you from somewhere? Do you visit libraries much?”

  “Yeah, I read.” Wye said. Lame! Was this the best conversation he could muster. “I read a lot.” Still lame.

  “Oh,” Becca sighed. “Great, I read too.” She pursed her lips and drummed on the table. “So, what do you do?”

  “I work with Danva,” Wye said. “Doing stuff.”

  “That’s compelling.” Becca said politely.

  Crash! Bang!

  “Oh no,” Becca groaned and stood up as a Sleek started to come over with Tiger and Carress.

  “Babysitting is only available for those who don’t cause destruction everywhere,” The Sleek complained. “These little runts are-wait! Ah, they wiggled out of my grasp!”

  Crash! Boom! Karoom!

  Becca grabbed onto Tiger while Shimmer grabbed Carress. The restaurant manager quickly came out and looked around in horror. He pointed at all of them. “You! You are going to pay for all this damage!”

  X and Wye showed up beside them. Finally. Now he could be helpful. “They’ve got some energy,” Wye couldn’t help but laugh.

  “This is no laughing matter,” Becca frowned. “I didn’t have money for cupboard repair let alone this.” She winced as she watched some glass that was dangling shatter and break. She took a quick glance around. Tables overturned, meals on the ground, serving platters broken, mirrors shattered, and so much food had been spilt on the former glistening white carpet. ‘I’m dead!’

  “Don’t worry about it,” Wye handed the manager his card. “Put it all on there, I’ll cover it.”

  Becca and Shimmer both looked at Wye.

  “Kids are kids,” Wye said. Besides, it wasn’t his money, what did he care?

  “Thank you,” Becca smiled at Wye. “I don’t know what we would have done. Umm, I don’t know quite know what to say.”

  “Say, let’s all go back to the table, with the kids too.” Wye smiled. “This place got kid’s meals?”

  “Wow, this place is a mess.”

  Wye looked back and saw his father coming. “So, any news?”

  “Tomorrow.” Danva said. “Everything will be ready, I am heading back to your place.” He smiled politely at Shimmer and Becca. “Good day.”

  Shimmer and Becca nodded back.

  Tomorrow. The day couldn’t come soon enough. This whole dreadful experience would finally be past them. No more worrying about enemies or anyone invading Earth. Wye smiled to himself. Just an uncomplicated life again. A part of him wanted to help the Ring Kingdom, but he ultimately had to face the facts. It had been too long and the Pink Kingdom was too protected. To even attempt a rescue for the female prisoners would get approximately three out of five killed according to his research. No, it wasn’t worth it. It was a sad fate for the warno race, but everyone could live the rest of their lives out in a semi-peaceful state. Nope, now it came down to only one thing: Taking care of himself and his family.

  So far, that task was almost complete.

  THE NEXT DAY BEHIND the wall...

  Zaria stared at Yed. “You’re saying we have to leave?”

  “No, I'm saying you get to leave.” Yed corrected him. “Not everyone does, so keep quiet. Just our family, capisce?

  “We’re leaving the planet?” Zaria didn’t seem particularly happy about that. “We’re leaving everyone here?”

  “I know it’s not easy to do.” Yed tried to make him feel better. “My mission to get us into the Pink Kingdom and to Earth safely gets complicated with each new addition. We are taking Xiam, Muin, you, your kids, my kids, Ezra, Iri, me, my sister, my mother, and my neglectful father. That is a ton right there, Zaria.”

  “I understand,” Zaria nodded. “I don’t like it, but I understand. Will this other world be worth the risk?”

  “Completely,” Yed said with a grin. “You’ll love it there. Sunshine filled skies with complete freedom. You couldn’t ask for anything better.” He patted him on the shoulder. “Your kids will never have to worry about running for safety again. You can drink the water without getting drunk because no one's spilling chemicals in it daily. Running is voluntary, if they want they can sit their butts down and play video games all day. TV, Radio, all those little things you once took for granted? It’s all on Earth, Zaria.”

  Zaria sighed. “What about Muin? I gave her the Chronicle she had and she barely opened it. She held it five seconds and then just shoved it back. Not to mention, we don’t know our kids and our kids don’t know us, and she is not making any effort. Will anything change if we go to Earth, or will this neglect continue?”

  “She’s just not ready,” Yed chuckled. “After the way me and Xiam acted when it all came back? I'm still calling her M-Win for her own comfort. You don't get it, tt takes time to absorb everything Zaria. Muin will open her Chronicle when she’s ready. As for the mommy thing, she’ll start to try when she remembers.”

  “Are you sure?” Zaria stared at the ground and sighed. “I’m beginning to think she’ll never want to be a mom.”

  “She did, at one time. I know that for a fact.” Yed tried to repress the sadness in his memories. He remembered how she even tried to ignore her labor pains just to get those babies out. “Everything finds a way of resurfacing. Just don’t forget her Chronicle. She will open the floodgates of her memory when she is ready.”

  “Until then, I am friend to ‘M-Win’.” Zaria half groaned. “So much time lost.”

  “Now it’s coming back. Everything’s coming back,” Yed said firmly to him. “We’re making a new start on Earth. If you’re on board?”

  “What about the memories or Ezra and Iri?” Zaria had to ask. “If you highjack them to Earth, they won’t be happy.”

  “My father has played with Ring minds enough,” Yed explained. “Snappity one, two, three and they’ll know everything. They’ll get the fastest crash course imaginable and we are out of here.”

  “Okay.” Zaria smiled sadly. “I’ll miss home. There are so many pleasant memories here.” He looked back at Yed. “Are you sure there’s nothing we can do to bring anything back?”

  Yed stuck his hands in his pockets and shook his head woefully. “I was living in the past when I first remembered. I checked everything thoroughly, through and through. To even attempt to make a stand, we are putting a lot of lives on the line that don’t need to be. A lot of warnos were hurt, even killed because I went after Muin. Just Muinela, Zaria.” He took a moment for himself. “Going back to Earth with our family is the only thing we can do now. Period. We can’t bring any kind of civilization back to the way it used to be. What happened, happened, and that’s all there is to it. We can’t change anything.”

  “Actually, we could. Maybe.” Zaria corrected. “Most likely our skin would be boiled off though.”

  “I thought it was melted?” Yed questioned. “Or charred, pretty sick.”

  “You’ve seen the thing?” Zaria looked over at Yed. “You think it would have ever worked?”

  “No way,” Yed shook his head. “Looks like they even gave up on it.”

  “They’ve adjusted it, only no one wants to attempt it.” Zaria looked at Yed. “There was a rumor of one Ring that went through it, successfully, you know? I mean, maybe? Well they say he was literally obliterated with no piece found, but I think that’s what ‘success’ would look like.”

  Yed just rolled his eyes. “If someone actually went through time, do you think we’d still be taken over by the Pinks?” He shook his head. “The Pinks stopped paying attention because time travel is impossible. World travel is possible though, and we are going tonight. So, unless you plan on taking on that machine and getting yourself boiled, melted, or charred, then I suggest you try and prepare your own kids. Alright?” He chuckled. “Muin is already packed and waiting downstairs.”

  “I know, she wants to go very badly. Xiam seems pretty happy too,” Zaria confessed. “If it makes Muin
ela happy, then we’ll all go and keep quiet.”

  “That’s what I wanted to hear.” Yed nodded as he left the room. He would tell everyone else they were going on a deep undercover mission that night. The Furries had his place, had his stored food, had everything left that he could offer to them. It was up to them to keep up their survival until things cooled down.

  “I was born before The Great Destruction.” Yed turned his head and saw the king. He had his arms crossed casually over the stairwell. “I was raised around Protectors. I know their subtle movements, and I know when they are doing something.” The king lifted his arms. “Don’t feel guilty. We’re used to living this way. It is how most warnos have always lived after the Great Destruction, you know.” He chuckled. “Do what you got to do.”

  Yed nodded. King Regwallis may not have been the brightest all the time, but he was his father’s son and a lot smarter than others gave him credit for. “I tried.”

  “I know. Protectors do what they can, but they aren’t superheroes,” King Regwallis said. “We warnos will highjack all your stuff once you disappear you know so don't leave a thing behind.”

  Yed chuckled then nodded. Weirdest king he’d ever had the pleasure knowing. “Thanks, your majesty. Thanks for using the correct word too.

  The king took a deep breath. "Warno. You're right, of all things I've let them take I should have at least kept the decency of our name. Starting today, I will reverse what they ruled on it. Warnos are what we all are. Towards the very end. Any Furry, Ancient Ring, and Sleek who do not have hatred within them will begin on this day being called warnos once more." He chuckled and waved him out. “Now go on, go and do what you got to do. Go deep undercover, one more time.”

  Chapter 47

  THE ESCAPE

  Pink Kingdom.

  “I hate this," Zar groaned and looked at his shaved tail. "It feels cold."

  “Quiet,” Yed insisted. “Kids. Say nothing and do nothing. Behave until we are out of here, or we are toast.”

  “We remember,” Cooey half whined. “We’re not stupid.”

  “You are whining now,” Xiam warned her. “Just don’t talk, okay?”

  Cooey and Zar groaned but did as they were told. After all, once they went to this Earth planet they could be free again.

  “This way,” Yed gestured to everyone as he turned into his father’s lab area.

  Yed Senior was above Ezra checking her eyes, and beside her was Iri. He looked over at Yed. “They are under. When they wake up, they should remember. It may be pretty hard at first, it's still a shock, but they had already had surgery when they were assimilated so risks are small. I already talked to your mother and sister, they remember, and they are waiting for you. My grandkids are tied up in a sack I found, they weren't willing.” He pointed to a sack beside him. “I’ve got them quiet, but the handkerchiefs will fall out soon with those two.”

  Xiam went over to Iri first. He smiled at her. “She’ll remember everything?” He grinned as he started to see her wake up. “Shimmer? Iri? Do you know what Iri means?”

  Iri stared at Xiam a few seconds longer. “X...X-xiam?”

  “Yeah,” Xiam gave her a hug. “It’s me.”

  “Xiam!” Iri grabbed onto him tightly. “How could I forget? How could I forget?” She looked at him oddly. “Did you date me last night?”

  “Yeah,” Xiam chuckled. “Iri, I’m so glad your back.”

  “What happened to you? Did you make it to another world? Why didn’t you ever come back?” Iri said as she held on even tighter.

  “I went to-Earth-too tight!” Xiam whined as he could barely breathe. “Iri!” He got her to loosen her grip. “Iri, we’re going to go back to Earth. You’re going to like it there, I promise.”

  “I don’t care, just as long as we’re not separated again.” Iri sniffled and a small twinkle of a tear appeared. “It’s been so long. Oh my, it's been so long.”

  “No, no, don’t start crying. No more need to ever cry again.” Xiam held her tightly back.

  Words were sweet, but Xiam wouldn’t be able to make Iri hold back years of tears. Yed watched the reunion and could feel the emotions running high. He even noticed that Xiam was trying not to cry, but he did have to wipe his eyes.

  “We’re going soon. Then, we’ll never come back. We’ll never see this place again,” Xiam promised Iri. “Everything’ll be okay from now on, Iri.”

  “Ooohhh...”

  Yed looked over at Ezra. Starting to stir? He watched as she started to move. It’d been years since he’d talked to her as Ezraponia Cattral. What was he supposed to say? He had enough trouble with the words last night. Things have changed a lot, she’s gone on, and I’ve gone on and all those feelings they’re just...maybe it was puppy love? It’s just puppy love getting to me. Past, memories, crushes, it was all mixed up in his head. He stood close to her as she opened her eyes. “...yo.”

  Ezra tilted her head slightly and stared at Yed.

  "They’re around here, I heard them!"

  Yed turned back, the waryes after them again. He quickly looked at Ezra. "Get up, get up now!"

  Ezra stared at him and at her two newborns. "...run."

  Yed shook his head. "No, get up!"

  "Even if I can, I can't run. I'll slow you down, you know it!" Ezra cried as tears filled her eyes. "You can't carry me and them, Yed."

  Yed looked at her sadly and then looked at the newborns.

  "Run!" Ezra yelled at him. "Yed! Run and...and find happiness," she said softly. "Get in the machine and find a better life."

  "I don't want to!" Yed yelled holding the twins tightly. "...if we got out, I was going to-"

  "There's no time, you've got to get out! They're heading this way!" Ezra cried. “Go, please, for them!”

  "It's not over," Yed said as he closed his eyes. "I'll get you out one day Ezra, I swear it!"

  “Protector Yeducavich?”

  Yed didn’t know how to react as he saw that recognition hit her hard in the eyes. She clearly remembered everything. “Everything’s okay, I know it may overwhelming.”

  “Tigeravich? Carressella?” Ezra asked softly, no pride in her left to shelter tears.

  “They’re fine and wiggling around in that sack over there.” Yed said as he wiped her tear away with one hand and pointed at their sack. His happy expression faltered as he watched her actions. Looking to the left, looking to the right, complete fright as her whole body trembled. “I always promised to come back one day, remember?” He just watched her drooping tail, and her face stare lifelessly at the floor.

  “We don’t have time for this,” Danva warned his son. “Yed, you have brought a lot with you! You are going to have to move, fast, or we are all going to get caught. Tell her and the other one something quickly. I already have your mother and sister in a transporter.”

  “Right.” Time to be awkward later. Yed looked over at Ezra. “Look, you see that machine over there with those two strange females waving out? Go get in the other one. We’re going to Earth, and we’re leaving this planet. Everyone’s coming including Tiger and Carress, okay? Just head over there, we don’t have much time.”

  Ezra didn’t say another word as she quickly headed to the machine. Yed watched as Xiam and Iri were heading into another one, good they were picking up the pace. The other one had Muinela and her family.

  Yed Senior headed over to Ezra. “Heads up.” Ezra watched as the sack containing Tiger and Carress fell next to her. "Special delivery."

  “I want out! Let me out of here! When I get out of here, you’ll regret it!” Yed threw a few books at the bottom then left of them.

  “Yed!” M-Win waved to her brother and pointed to Ezra. “She’s out like a light.”

  "Not surprising." Yed looked over at his dad. “Mom is in, sis is in, Xiam’s in with Iri, Zaria and the kids are in, M-Wins going to be in again soon, and Ezra’s in with her kids.”

  “Did you get the books?” His dad asked. “Some of the Pink books
? Maybe they will help.”

  “Doubtful but dumped them in,” Yed said. “Now let’s go before-“

  BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

  “I knew we’d get caught!” Yed Senior yelled as he headed to his family's transporter. “Too much, too fast!”

  “Only choice!” Yed yelled back. He jumped into the transporter with the unconscious Ezra. He looked at the navigation. At least that was improved. “Everybody ready?”

  “Halt Rings!"

  “Wait,” Xiam held onto Iri as Pinks started to attack their transporter first.

  “Buzz off creep,” M-Win said as she kicked one in the head.

  “We’re not going to make it,” Litalia yelled as she tried to keep her lid closed as much as she could. “Go away!”

  Yed left his transporter and helped Xiam with Iri. He took out the Pinks with little problems. “Now move quick, another fleet is going to come fast, just hit the green button!”

  Yed Senior quickly hit the green button and his transporter disappeared.

  “Here we go, finally back home!” M-Win gleefully hit the green button.

  “Wait, your Chronicle. You left it outside!” Zaria pointed below the ship. “Yed, get it!”

  Yed quickly fetched the Chronicle, but saw more enemies coming. He looked around and saw Xiam and Iri’s ride already gone as well. Only his was left. He ran to his transporter but saw Pinks starting to attack it. I can’t take on this many alone. He closed his eyes, knowing his only option: Complete random surprise that hopefully didn't get him killed. He went between all of their legs and jumped onto the transporter. He quickly closed the top again and looked around for the green button. Finally. He almost pressed the green button when he realized Ezra had been taken out along with the kids. “Cripes!” Couldn’t anything be easy? He looked around the lab and saw some Pinks carrying his family away. Now what? I can’t take them all out. They’re climbing all over the transporter.

  “It’s over Ring, give it up!"

  Yed opened the lid, said a small prayer and jumped as far as he could into an empty area. He quickly took out the Pinks holding Ezra and the kids. Amazing how much power he had when his adrenaline was rushing. With the kids still in the sack in one hand and Ezra safely tucked over his shoulder still unconscious he made his way back, hoping for a miracle.