INDEFINITE HIATUS

Tiigras opened his mouth to complain to his holder over the condition they had gotten themselves into before he managed to glance over to Ophidian. His eyes widened as he fluttered to Juleka’s shoulder, settling himself as she wobbled lightly on her feet in her own silent pain. JULEKA HERSELF WAS IN SHOCK AS WELL and it was to be expected when such a sacred rule had been so cruelly broken.

Juleka took a step back when Ophidian croaked out her name so weakly. HE KNEW HER CIVILIAN IDENTITY BY NAME? Clearly the situation could not get much worse–it was bad enough she had been discovered, now she had been recognised? Her breath hitched in her throat as she went to respond, settling to crouch down. The akumatised villain was still at large and while Tiigras may have been in need of food in order to recharge his energy, JULEKA WAS GOING TO DEFEND HER FRIEND. Especially after his command–”WAIT”. Maybe he didn’t want her to leave after all.

She just wish he hadn’t looked.

What would he think of her? The famous Tiger Lily, feared by akumas and loved by civilians turned out to be nothing more than a local gothic figure–holding the reminiscent look of a vampire, somebody who only ever appeared in the dark of the night.

Her own body ached–NOTHING COMPARED TO THE PAIN OF THE SUPERHERO LAYING BEFORE HER but it was an ache she couldn’t ignore. Her injured frame decided as it trembled that it could not take the stress of crouching down in her position and so she collapsed to her knees, still taller than Ophidian–she would be able to protect him if anybody came for them that way.

Maybe this time she should speak properly to him. Yet before she could get a word out, she heard a soft command to his kwami–”Shed Scales”.

❝ Wait–what are you– ❞ she stuttered out as the familiar glow encased the snake hero, revealing the male before her to be…

❝ Lars? ❞ SHE QUESTIONED, eyes straying over his battered body. The person she tended to only meet up with to hide from akumas was the very person she had began to fight alongside. Still trembling, she shuffled her body slightly closer, Tiigras looking in shock towards the snake kwami Sass himself, eyes flashed in concern for both holders.

❝ Ahh… you’re really hurt, ❞ she murmured, trying to think of how to help him work through the pain. Trying to push past the reveal, she tried to focus on what she really needed to do. THEY NEEDED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL–especially if Ladybug’s powers refused to heal the wounded. HER MOTHER taught her basic first aid–but the knowledge she would need to know to help Lars through his pain was beyond her.

❝ Do–uh… um, do you think you can move? Uh, try moving your arm…? We, uh… we need to go. ❞

     “My people—” The Doctor looked hesitant for the first time since she’d appeared, eyes cast briefly to the stars, and when they returned there was a hint of millennia’s old pain running deep behind them. “They’re all gone now. It’s only me left. Rather not dwell on it just now, if y’don’t mind.” 

        A moment of silence fell, until the small, sunset-hued sapphire piped up: “I predict the Doctor is about to reveal…something very sad.” 

        Nevertheless, the Doctor smiled. “Never mind that. I’ve got the TARDIS—that’s Time and Relative Dimension in Space. She takes me where I’m needed and I help, if I can.” She couldn’t save Gallifrey, but there were trillions of lives left out there worth protecting. “And it’s meant to disguise itself based on where we land, but that function broke in 1963. It’s been a police box ever since. I’m quite fond of it now.” 

        The Doctor looked the whole group over while Lars explained their situation. She wondered how a human managed to get trapped on the gem’s Homeworld, but she’d save that question for another day. “Off Colors,” she repeated with an approving nod. “I like it. Can’t be used to hurt you once you’ve made it your own.” The term shatter was enough to make her grimace, then step up to put a hand on the captain’s shoulder. 

       “And we won’t let it happen,” she said, quite decisively. “Even the Diamonds couldn’t stop me.” The Doctor smirked. “I know from experience. Tell me, do you know how Emerald’s been tracking you?” 

Finally! Emerald had the Off Colors, along with their thieving organic leader, right where she wanted! There was nowhere they could run to this time. And her precious Sun Incinerator was just within her grasp! This was her chance to clear her name— especially to her disappointed leader, Yellow Diamond! Little did she know, the Diamonds had a … new agenda.  Emerald wasted no time emerging from her ship, eager to address conflict. She didn’t care if she made a scene, or if anyone nearby had seen anything. She wanted to make her presence known. This was going to go exactly how she planned, resulting in her victory, and the Off Colors taken care of once and for all! 

Standing at a distance from the group, Emerald drew a weapon from her gem. Perhaps, unsurprisingly, it was a sword. Just a few feet away, Emerald pointed its sharp, deadly end at Lars. She was serious. 

❝ YOU! Did you honestly think you’d get away with what you’ve done!? Return the Sun Incinerator IMMEDIATELY! ❞

                                                   EVERY FACE ALONG THE BOULEVARD                                                      IS A DREAMER JUST LIKE YOU.

                                        EVERY FACE ALONG THE BOULEVARD                                                       IS A DREAMER JUST LIKE YOU.

The dust was settling – things in Beach City were starting to normalize; as normal as anything could be with more than ten times the number of gems running around than there were before. Lars had come back to a changed Beach City. Or, no, changed wasn’t quite the word he was looking for – different, definitely. But, Lars was different too – but, he was still Lars. And, in the same manner, Beach City was still Beach City.    Caught up in a discussion with the Off Colors – listening to Rhodonite ramble on about all the things Garnet had told her so far; all of this mixed with his prior struggle to readapt to home in the surreal manner that being back caused… – everything else of excite flew over his head, as the pink teenager was STRUGGLING to wrap his head around everything that had happened and was happening so quickly.   Wind picks up and the Off Colors grow quiet. It’s when his brows begin to twist that Padparadscha speaks, “…– I predict Beach City will receive another gem visitor.” And she didn’t seem happy; Lars turning to see an already landed ship on the shore – near his own ship. And – oh, he KNEW THAT SHIP.   Despite himself, the Captain takes a step back, nearly shouldering into the Rutile Twins. “– this is awkward,” was all he could manage to get out, as he was completely unsure of where this might go.