Twilight pointed at Levi's ship. "There! That's Captain Levi's ship! That's my crew!"
"Well let's hurry up and get you there then!" Erin chirped.
The group ran as fast as they could. But they were too late. The ship was already lifting from the ground.
Twilight's heart sank as he watched Levi's ship lift off the ground, its engines roaring to life. "No, no, no!! he shouted, sprinting toward the ship with a desperation he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Erin, flapping her wings to keep pace, frowned. "Looks like they’re leaving without you, Twilight. What’s the plan now? Twilight?
Twilight paced, muttering words under his breath. "Why do I even bother trying to catch up with that asshole? Not like any one on that ship cares that I'm gone! After all, Glitch and Luna are just ugly thieves! And Captain Levi is a loner, and is probably still planning on how to get rid of everyone on his ship!"
"Is he okay?" Ava asked.
Erin shrugged. Erin watched Twilight pace, his frustration palpable. She could sense the deep tension behind his words, but she wasn’t sure whether to press him or just let him vent. Ava, always full of energy, bounced on her toes and asked, "Are you okay? You look like you’re about to blow up!"
Twilight clenched his fists, his ears twitching with agitation. "No! I’m not okay!" He glared at the spot where Levi’s ship had been. "That was my ride off this damn rock. And now I’m stuck here with no way off because they decided to fuckin leave without me."
Erin let out a deep sigh, stepping closer. "Look, I get it, but you’ve got to calm down. Freaking out won’t solve anything. What’s done is done, and standing here getting worked up isn’t gonna bring them back."
Twilight took a deep breath, his shoulders still tense. "Yeah, I know… it’s just… I trusted them, you know? I thought they’d wait. But I guess I was wrong."
Orion, ever the cautious one, spoke up in his soft voice. "Maybe it was an accident? Maybe they didn’t know you were missing? If they’re your crew, they’ll come back for you, right?"
Twilight shook his head, his voice bitter. "I don’t know about that, Orion. I thought I was part of the team, but now I’m not so sure."
Erin’s feathers ruffled, and she jabbed a wing in Twilight’s direction. "Okay, enough with the self-pity! You’re not the first furry to be ditched by a crew. So what if they left? You’ve still got your legs, and you’re breathing. We’ll figure this out. You’re stuck with us now, so either keep moping, or start thinking of a new plan."
Twilight blinked, caught off guard by Erin’s bluntness. Ava, on the other hand, grinned wide and squawked, "Yeah! You’ve got us now! Let’s do something fun and figure out a way to steal a new ship!"
Twilight stared at them, a mix of disbelief and reluctant amusement creeping in. "Steal a ship, huh? You guys really are troublemakers."
Erin smirked. "Hey, when you’ve got nothing else, sometimes you’ve got to get creative."
Twilight exhaled slowly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Alright, alright. Guess I’ve got no choice but to stick with you for now. But if we’re stealing a ship, we’d better do it right."
Ava clapped her wings excitedly. "That’s the spirit! Let’s get moving before we get caught standing around!"
Orion, despite his nervousness, nodded in agreement. "I’ll… I’ll help however I can. Just tell me what to do."
As they started walking, Twilight felt a strange sense of relief. Maybe his crew had left him, but at least he wasn’t alone in this mess. He might not fully trust this odd bunch, but for now, they were his best shot at getting out of here.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDOpr0CxDA
Meanwhile...
The grand chamber of Emperor Rick’s ship was cold, dimly lit by flickering lights embedded in the walls. The air carried a sense of authority and danger, as the looming figure of Emperor Rick sat upon his imposing throne, cloaked in shadow. His expression hidden behind his mechanical suit.
The furry, fully suited in armor, stayed perfectly still, kneeling before Emperor Rick. The metal plates of the suit were sleek, well-maintained, and emblazoned with the insignia of the emperor’s elite forces. Beneath the helmet, the warrior's expression was hidden, but the weight of the moment was undeniable.
The emperor's voice echoed through the chamber, smooth but filled with an edge of menace. "Report, General Varok. What of the mission?"
The armored figure, General Varok, tilted his head slightly upward but kept his posture submissive. "My lord, we’ve located the ship. The one carrying Shadow Paw's crew.
Emperor Rick leaned forward on his throne, the sound of gears and hydraulics in his mechanical suit whirring softly as his cold gaze bore into General Varok. “Shadow Paw’s crew... Have you captured them?"
Varok hesitated for a moment, knowing full well that any hesitation in the emperor’s presence could be fatal. “Not yet, my lord. The ship lifted off before our units could intercept it, but we have a tracker on board. They won’t escape us for long.”
The flickering lights cast ominous shadows across the chamber as Emperor Rick’s voice cut through the air like a blade. “Failure is not an option, Varok. Do you understand what’s at stake here? Shadow Paw may be a rogue, but his crew holds valuable information—information I need."
Varok stiffened, his fists clenching inside the armored gloves. “Yes, my lord. I am aware of the importance of the mission. We will track the ship and bring them to you, alive and intact. They will not escape your grasp.”
The emperor’s mechanical suit hissed as he leaned back into his throne, seemingly satisfied for now. “Good. But do not underestimate them, Varok. Shadow Paw’s crew may be made of thieves and outcasts, but they are not without their skills. Bring them to me, but do not kill them—yet.”
Varok bowed deeply, his armor clinking. “As you command, my lord. I will not fail you again.”
As General Varok turned to leave, Emperor Rick’s voice echoed one final warning. “Remember, Varok… the price of failure is high. Do not make me remind you again.”
With that, Varok left the grand chamber, the weight of the mission and the emperor’s words pressing heavily on him. The crew of Shadow Paw’s ship was out there somewhere, and he would not rest until they were captured and brought before the emperor.
Behind the dark visor of his helmet, Varok’s eyes narrowed. This time, there would be no escape for Shadow Paw and his crew.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fHkss3n0p
Meanwhile...
Levi had been resting his head on the helm for a long while. And the ship was starting to stray off course. Luna, 'Twilight' and Glitch were starting to become concerned.
"Levi...are you okay?" Luna asked.
Levi didn't respond.
"You think he died?" 'Twilight' whimpered.
Luna, 'Twilight' and Glitch stared at B-7T3. B-7T3’s eyes flickered as it scanned Levi’s still form. “Captain Levi is not dead. He is merely in a state of rest.”
Glitch stood up and walked up next to Levi. "H-he l-looks ki-ki-kinda c-c-c-c-cute wh-when he's asleep."
Glitch sneakily took the pilot cap off of Levi and put it on her head. "L-l-luna! L-look! I'm the-the pilot n-n-n-now!"
"You do not have a pilot's license, therefore you cannot be the pilot," said B-7T3.
Glitch pouted but continued to play with Levi's cap, adjusting it comically on her head. “B-but I-I-I-I-I look ad-dorable! Can’t I j-j-j-just pretend-tend?”
Luna giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You do look cute, but what if he wakes up?”
“The-then I’ll just s-s-say I’m t-taking over!” Glitch exclaimed, bouncing back to her seat.
'Twilight' leaned closer, still keeping an eye on Levi. “He’s really out of it, huh? Should we do something?”
B-7T3’s eyes flickered again. “The ship’s systems are functioning within normal parameters. However, if Captain Levi remains unresponsive, I will need to adjust course to ensure safe navigation.”
'Twilight' sighed. “Great. Just what we need—getting lost in space because Levi decided to take a nap.”
Luna shrugged. “Maybe we should wake him up. I’ll do it!” She stood up, her determination evident.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” 'Twilight' asked, hesitating.
“Of course! What’s the worst that could happen?” Luna said with a playful grin.
Before Twilight could protest, Luna approached Levi and gently shook his shoulder. “Levi! Wake up!”
Levi stirred, blinking slowly as he registered what was happening. “What? I wasn’t sleeping,” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
“Yes, you were,” Luna said, trying to suppress her laughter. “You kind of looked like a bear in hibernation.”
Levi shot her a tired glare. “That’s not funny, Luna.”
Glitch chimed in, “B-b-b-but you were so cute! I-I even wore your hat!” She adjusted the cap on her head with a proud smile.
“Get that off!” Levi snapped, sitting up straighter and taking the cap back. “I’m the captain here, not a toy.”
'Twilight' couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, you scared us. We thought you were going to crash the ship.”
Levi grumbled, “I know what I’m doing. Just… give me a second.” He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and checked the controls.
Levi checked the ship’s controls, his brow furrowing as he noticed the ship had drifted slightly off course. “Dammit… I must’ve been more tired than I thought,” he muttered under his breath.
B-7T3’s eyes flickered again. “Shall I re-adjust the course, Captain?”
Levi shook his head. “No, I got it.” He quickly keyed in a few commands, bringing the ship back on track. He leaned back in his chair, still looking a little groggy. “Alright, we’re good. No more napping while piloting.”
Luna crossed her arms with a smirk. “You know, Levi, maybe you should let someone else take over for a while. You’re not invincible.”
Glitch nodded enthusiastically, still fiddling with her imitation of Levi’s stern captain pose. “I-I can be th-th-the captain for-for a bit! P-p-p-pilot Glitch, at your s-s-service!”
“Hell no! I don't need your help! I don't need anyone's help!" Levi barked. "I should have just dropped all of you off at Dusk Hollow."
"I th-thought y-y-y-you l-l-liked us..." Glitch whimpered.
"I never liked you guys. I never wanted you guys," said Levi.
Luna’s playful grin faded as Levi's harsh words settled in the air. She stared at him, trying to figure out if he meant it or if his exhaustion was talking. “Levi… you don’t mean that.”
Levi's eyes, still heavy with fatigue, narrowed. “I do. You all slow me down, drag me into problems I never asked for. I don’t need anyone, and I certainly don’t need a crew that can’t follow orders.”
Glitch’s ears drooped, her playful energy vanishing. "I-I just w-wanted to h-help…"
'Twilight' stepped forward, frowning. “That’s a load of bull shit, Levi. You could’ve dropped us off a hundred times, but you didn’t. You chose to keep us around. So what’s this really about?”
Levi clenched his fists, jaw tight. “You don’t know a damn thing about what I want or what I need. I don’t have time for—” He stopped short, visibly restraining himself, his frustration warring beneath the surface.
Luna sighed, shaking her head. “You think shutting everyone out makes you stronger? It just makes you lonelier.”
Levi’s eyes flicked up, cold and defensive. “I like being alone.”
"Th-th-then w-why did-didn't y-you drop us off wh-when you had th-th-the chance?" Glitch asked, her voice timid but determined.
Levi turned away, his pride unwilling to admit any weakness. “Doesn’t matter now, does it? We’re already too far in this mess.” He set the hat back on his head and refocused on the controls. “Just stay out of my way. We’ve got a long trip ahead.”
The cabin fell into an awkward silence, the sting of Levi’s words hanging in the air. Luna gave him one last look, a mix of frustration and pity in her eyes, before retreating to her seat. Glitch slumped beside her, clearly hurt, while 'Twilight' crossed his arms, his eyes never leaving Levi.
ns 64.252.185.142da2
