A jagged scar of darkness spread across the heavens above Celestra Dominion, swallowing stars wherever it passed.
For one horrifying moment, the entire kingdom fell silent and hen chaos erupted alarms echoed throughout the floating city.
Citizens ran through the crystal streets and Guards rushed toward defensive positions, the beautiful peace of Celestra Dominion vanished in seconds.
"What is happening?!" I shouted, Caelum stared at the crack in the sky, his expression darker than I'd ever seen "They're here they found us." A cold feeling settled in my stomach.
Before anyone could explain further, the darkness above began moving... No... It's Opening....
A massive vortex of black energy formed inside the crack lightning made of shadows exploded from its center.
Then silhouettes appeared hundreds of them i mean it... My heart nearly stopped.
Dark figures slowly descended from the vortex like an endless army pouring from the heavens the citizens below screamed.
"They're heree again!"
"The Void Army!"
The first wave landed beyond the city walls the ground shook violently I stared in horror like they looked similar to the Galaxy People... But twisted... Corrupted. Their armor was black instead of silver, Dark energy leaked from their bodies like smoke and their eyes glowed crimson beneath their helmets.
Some possessed torn wings made from shadows others carried weapons pulsing with purple energy.
They looked like nightmares wearing human faces and at their center stood a giant warrior nearly three times taller than everyone else... His black cape whipped through the storm amassive sword rested across his shoulder, the moment he stepped forward, darkness spread beneath his feet.
Lyra's face turned pale "General Malakar." Solen cursed under his breath even Caelum looked tense, i immediately knew that wasn't good.
The giant warrior raised his sword toward the city then his voice thundered across the kingdom
"BY THE ORDER OF OUR LORD!" His voice echoed like an explosion "DELIVER THE PRINCESS!" Fear shot through my chest... Me... They were talking about me "We're not giving her to you!" Lyra shouted and the giant laughed.
The sound was terrifying then he lowered his sword "Destroy the kingdom." hundreds of Dark Galactians charged the battle began and i can't believe it the kingdom exploded into chaos.
Galactians rushed forward to defend their home and silver energy clashed against dark magic.
Explosions of light erupted throughout the battlefield, crystal bridges shattered and the beautiful extraordinaries buildings trembled.
The sky filled with warriors flying between floating islands and i stood frozen watching them fighting unable to move, this wasn't like movies... This wasn't like stories like people were actually getting hurt, a Galaxy guard was thrown across the plaza and another collapsed beneath a dark spear.
Fear rooted me in place "Aurora!" Caelum grabbed my arm.
"We have to move!" I snapped back to reality the four of us ran through the city as battle erupted around us Dark energy blasted through nearby buildings.
Crystal shattered everywhere... Citizens fled in panic...
A group of Dark Galactians suddenly landed in front of us
and their weapons glowed purple. "There she is!" Before I could react, Solen launched himself forward his silver blade flashed.
CLANG! Metal collided Lyra raised her hands Blue starlight exploded from her palms.
Three enemies were sent flying instantly and Caelum joined the fight seconds later Golden energy surrounded his fists the battle was beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
For the first time, I realized how powerful they truly were yet despite everything they did... More enemies kept coming there were simply too many.
The Dark Galactian army continued flooding into the kingdom the sky itself seemed endless with them.
Suddenly— BOOM! A massive explosion shook the city.
I looked toward the Star Heart and my blood ran cold the giant general stood before it. Malakar. Dark energy surged from his sword as he struck the crystal again.
Cracks spread further across its surface black corruption crawled deeper toward the core. The Star Heart dimmed... "No!" Seraphine screamed... The entire kingdom trembled.
People fell to their knees
The air itself seemed weaker
As if the world was slowly dying
"Aurora!" Caelum shouted "The Star Heart!" I stared at it helplessly i mean what was I supposed to do?
I didn't know how to fight
I didn't know how to use powers
I barely understood any of this...
Another strike hit the Star Heart.
CRACK! The crystal fractured further the kingdom groaned floating islands began sinking slightly.
Panic spread everywhere "Aurora..." Lyra whispered the fear in her voice hurt more than the battle itself.
Everyone was looking at me
Depending on me
Believing in me
And I had absolutely no idea what to do
The giant general raised his sword again
One final strike... That was all it would take the Star Heart would shatter the kingdom would fall.
And suddenly— the necklace around my neck burned hot pain exploded through my chest.
I gasped golden light erupted from the star pendant i feel like the world froze everything became silent...
The battle the screams the explosions.... Gone likd it's gone... A voice echoed inside my mind.
Warm, familiar "Aurora." My heart stopped i knew that voice even though I had never heard it before "Dad...?"
"The stars are within you." Golden light surrounded me
"The darkness fears your light." The voice softened "Trust yourself." Then the silence shattered.
BOOM!
Power exploded from my body everyone stopped fighting everyone stared and of course me included.
Light erupted around me like a miniature sun the ground beneath my feet glowed stars appeared in the air around me tiny constellations spun endlessly through the light.
My hair lifted into the air then slowly— The right side of it changed color.
My dark hair transformed into a brilliant royal blue like the color of galaxies the color of starlight... Gasps echoed throughout the battlefield.
I looked down at my trembling hands light danced across my skin PURE, RADIANT, BEAUTIFUL.
Then I caught my reflection in a shattered crystal nearby my eyes glowed not gold and not blue they sparkled like a midnight sun.
Like an entire galaxy existed within them i barely recognized myself Lyra stared in awe "The Celestial Transformation..."
Caelum looked speechless Solen actually forgot to be sarcastic Which was probably a historical event.
The giant general narrowed his eyes "So the heir..." Dark energy exploded around him "GET HER! " Hundreds of Dark Galactians charged Fear rose inside me But something else rose with it.
Courage...
Strength...
Light...
The power inside me answered i raised my hand instinctively and a star appeared above my palm small and brilliant then it expanded growing brighter, brighter, BRIGHTER.
The battlefield vanished beneath its radiance everyone shielded their eyes the Dark Galactians screamed.
Light burst outward across the kingdom like a newborn sun the shadows evaporated instantly dark weapons shattered Void creatures dissolved into ash.
Entire groups of enemies were thrown backward the darkness couldn't withstand it because for the first time again— The stars were fighting back i floated slightly above the ground.
Light surrounded me countless glowing particles spiraled through the air the power felt incredible.
Warm
Peaceful
Alive
I wasn't controlling it it's like it's guiding me and another wave of enemies charged, i extended my hand streams of starlight erupted forward the attack swept across the battlefield.
Dark Galactians fell one after another... Not killed... Purified.
The darkness infecting them burned away beneath the light and many of them immediately retreated.
Others fled entirely fear spread through the enemy ranks "Retreat!" Panic replaced confidence for the first time, the Void Army looked afraid.
Even General Malakar stepped backward his dark armor cracked beneath the starlight.
He glared at me then at the Star Heart then finally toward the sky "This battle is not over." dark energy exploded around him.
The remaining enemies immediately retreated into the vortex above within seconds— They were gone.
Silence fell across the battlefield the war was over i mean at least for now i slowly lowered to the ground the transformation remained active.
The kingdom stared at me thousands of people.
Watching... Waiting... Then the Star Heart pulsed weakly.
The cracks remained the corruption still lingered it wasn't saved yet i approached slowly the necklace glowed brighter.
The crystal responded Golden light spread from my hands as I touched its surface warm energy flowed into the Star Heart.
The black corruption retreated the cracks stabilized protective symbols appeared throughout the crystal the kingdom brightened immediately.
Citizens gasped floating islands rose higher and the he air felt alive again hope returned but after several moments, the light faded.
I stumbled backward exhausted the cracks remained smaller but still there Caelum caught me before I fell "You did it."
I looked at the Star Heart "No." I shook my head weakly.
"I only slowed it down." The truth hurt.
The kingdom wasn't fully healed the corruption wasn't gone i had merely protected it bought time nothing more Seraphine approached slowly tears filled her eyes "You gave us hope."
The citizens began cheering then more joined and more.
Until the entire kingdom echoed with applause not because I saved everything but because for the first time again in many years... Someone had pushed the darkness back.
I looked toward the stars above toward the endless galaxies beyond three Star Hearts remained three kingdoms remained .
And somewhere in the darkness... Xorodor had undoubtedly heard about what happened today.
My first battle was not over.