Zayra sighed and smiled slightly. "I'll...see you later."
She disappeared, going back to Pluto. She began pacing as the panic crept in on her. So this is what people could be like... Selfish. He used her to try to stop Apollo... Apollo saved her. She smiled slightly, but then frowned. What would have happened if Apollo wasn't there? Or if she had been threatened without Jaxyn or Skyler?
She took in a sharp breath and sat down against a tree. She was young. Everyone thought she was weak, but... The part that scared her the most is that they weren't wrong. She didn't want to fight them as it was, but they seemed violent. Would thousands of years harden her to the point of violence too?
"Hard day in paradise, princess?" Ridley asked, leaning against the tree and glancing at her.
Zayra jumped and quickly stood. "Um...sorry, I didn't see you there, I...I'm Zayra."
"Hello, Zayra. My name is Ridley. I need your help with a little project I've been working on... An old friend said you might be able to help," Ridley stated. "Can I have your assistance?"
"Um...what project...?" Zayra asked.
Ridley hesitated then smiled. "I'll explain when we get to my planet. Shall we?"
He offered her a hand.
Zayra looked at him then at his hand, hesitating. "Um...maybe I can get back to you with my answer after I ask-"
Ridley sighed. "I see we'll have to do this the hard way."
He tossed some anti on Zayra with his gloved hand, and she collapsed. He removed his glove and caught her, teleporting back to Elysia.
"Good... You got her. Thousands upon thousands of years were spent waiting for this moment..." the Emperor smirked. "Well done, Ridley."
"I wouldn't have known without Ian," Ridley also smirked. "Finally, we will win."
Cedric frowned, glancing at the collapsed, young planet guardian. This didn't seem fair...
- - - - -
Zayra woke up, feeling awful. She sat up and looked around. She was in some sort of underground prison...
The emperor walked in. "Ah, good. You're finally awake. I have a task for you... That is why Ridley brought you here."
Zayra blinked. "Um...what is it...?"
The Emperor gestured to follow. Zayra hesitated then followed. Cedric and Zayra met eyes for a moment before Cedric looked down, frowning. Zayra looked back at the Emperor, and she and Cedric followed.
"I want you to bring back the former Emperors," he finally stated.
Zayra blinked. "Me? Um...I don't...how?"
"You can manipulate time, can you not? So, can you manipulate the time of their life?" the Emperor asked.
Zayra tilted her head, glancing around the room they had stopped in. "I...am not sure..."
Ridley walked over, crossing his arms. "But how do we know she won't rewind time to undo this?"
Zayra's eyes widened and she quickly tried to manipulate time before wincing and giving up.
"Cedric will see that things go according to plan," the Emperor shrugged. "Now, Cedric."
Zayra frowned, glancing over at Cedric quickly.
Cedric sighed and walked over. "I, um... I'm sorry..."
He closed his eyes and easily took control. The Emperor removed Zayra's restraints and Zayra walked over, beginning to rewind the previous rulers' lifespans. Suddenly, the room was full of previous emperors.
Zayra collapsed afterwards, and the Emperor handcuffed her with anti again. Cedric frowned, walking over and picking her up. The Emperors and Ridley began to plot as Cedric carried Zayra back to her cell.
"I'm sorry again... I just...don't get a choice..." Cedric said quietly, setting her down.
Ridley appeared and smirked. "Turns out, you're no longer needed, kid."
He dumped a container of anti on her, handing the other to Cedric. "Finish her off, kid. After her, the galaxy will be ours."
He patted Cedric's shoulder and disappeared.
Zayra woke up and gasped, coughing and falling off the bed. She winced, curling up in a ball and squeezing her eyes shut.
Cedric looked at the anti then at Zayra's pain. "...no..." He set it down and hurried over, undoing Zayra's handcuffs. "Hey, hey... You're okay. Try to relax... Breathe..."
Zayra coughed and cried a bit. "It burns...please make it stop..."
"I'm not going to let them destroy you, Zayra..." Cedric frowned. "Stay with me... I don't want this future. Please... You have to feel better before they notice I've undone your cuffs and haven't destroyed you."
Cedric gently wiped away her tears, frowning.
"I...I want Apollo..." Zayra cried softly. "Please..."
"I...can't teleport you, Zayra... I'm sorry... But you can stop this from happening... But you have to hurry and go back to the past - change it!" Cedric urged.
Ridley appeared. "Hey, kid, is she dead ye-? Hey! What are yo-?!"
Cedric tossed the anti at Ridley. "Run! Change the past, or we're both done for!"
Ridley winced. "You little-!"
"ZAYRA! Get out of here-!" Cedric urged, looking back at her.
Zayra exhaled and time froze. She lied on the floor for several seconds, trying to catch her breath. Apollo... She needed to go back to him or else her future would be this. If she could just rewind the clock, she could fix everything... She took a deep breath as everything went in reverse. She fought the pain, which faded as she undid the time. She finally found the moment she chose to leave and let go of her grip on time. She was safe... She was back with him... And the pain was gone.
