Chapter CCLXXXIV: Welcome to Dharnuu ~Daedalus

The Dharnuuan Pub was crowded this night. All sorts of people from all races, cultures, and stereotypes gathered here for one purpose and one purpose only...to get totally smashed.

With being smashed come two consequences: unpleasant fornication, or violence. Tonight violence was the theme, for few females – save the small number of prostitutes on the planet – ever ventured into this hellhole.

Dharnuu itself wasn't exactly ''Happy Fun Planet" anyway. It was a dark, desolate place and what flora and fauna existed on this planet was extremely hostile. It was only inhabited by intelligent life because of its mineral resources deep below the surface.

Anyway, back to the Bar. Due to the great amount of..."diversity", no one was surprised when a middle aged Hoshi with rainbow skin, graying blue hair, and huge white wings entered the...humble establishment. The Hoshi scanned the inside of the Bar with his emerald optics. After searching the room for a few seconds, he spotted his target and continued to the booth in the far right corner.

Waiting in the booth was a teenage human boy, who, on his home planet of First Earth, wouldn't be allowed into so much as the front entryway of an establishment like this. He was no older than seventeen. He had long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, dark jade green eyes, and fair skin. While he wasn't exactly 'buff', he was fairly well built. The boy wore nothing more than a black athletic tanktop and a pair of blue jeans, surprising considering the temperature outside. The Hoshi shook his head; the boy was obviously trying to be a 'tough guy' to fit in with the crowd, who, incidentally, were gathered around a fight taking place on the other side of the bar.

"Thanks for meeting me here," the boy smirked. "I could use your help."

The Hoshi nodded, a suspicious glint in his twin emeralds. "And you are?" he asked.

"Guess," the human smirked with his reply. "Call me Guess."

He examined the Hoshi, who looked like he had been traveling for many years. He wore comfortable looking gloves and boots, trousers, tunic, and vest, as well as a small cape that fell in between his large wings. Despite his age, he appeared to be in remarkably good shape. Guess also took time to note the sheathed sword tied to the Hoshi's belt.

"Sit, please."

The Hoshi slowly sat down in the booth, his wings folding behind him. "I'm Daedalus," he muttered, resting his elbows against the table. "What exactly do you want from me? I'm pressed for time."

"Just some information."

"About...?"

"Your homeworld, MichinoHoshi."

The boy's answer startled Daedalus. How could a First Earthling know about the Star Road?

"What...exactly do you want to know about it?" he asked timidly.

Guess merely grinned. "Everything," he replied. "I've been fascinated with it ever since I first heard of the place. I want to know everything, the culture, the Divine Crystal, everything. Its past, its secrets...its...princess."

The Hoshi winced.

"I want to know all there is to know."

"I think that's enough." Daedalus' nose wrinkled in disgust. "Excuse me." He stood up and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Guess stood as well. "Where are you going?!"

"Sorry lad," the Hoshi grumbled, facing him again, "but in asking for these things, you are asking me to betray my homeworld's secrets."

"But you aren't living there anymore, right?" the human boy pressed on. "It wouldn't do any–"

"I have a wife and child back there!" Daedalus hissed. "I am NOT about to jeopardize their well-being because of some...BRAT."

The human's face grew red with anger. "Brat, huh?" he asked, grinning. "Do 'brats' typically have things like this?"

From under his tanktop, Guess pulled out a black crystal pendant that was apparently half of a larger stone.

Daedalus' eyes widened in horror. "That's..."

"Yes." The boy grinned. "Ironic isn't it? This is the very planet that Montsho thrived. And here I am...on Dharnuu, with half of the–"

"Enough."

It's too bad you can't take it from me without–"

"I said ENOUGH!" Daedalus slammed his fist against the table, an action that, unsurprisingly, attracted no attention whatsoever. The Hoshi stood and turned away, snarling. "This isn't finished, BRAT."

* * *

A few hours later, Daedalus found himself at his destination: the entrance of a castle.

His mind was racing. Who was that boy...really? How did a simpleton like him find out about MichinoHoshi in the first place, let alone obtain half of the...

But that would have to wait for now. The Hoshi had other things on his agenda. In a split second, he slashed to the right with his scimitar, slaying the giant rat-like creature that had crept up on him. The monster was just like everything else on this planet: dark and hostile. He couldn't wait to get out of there.

He wiped the blood off his sword and focused his attention on the castle door. After sheathing the scimitar, Daedalus cupped his hands together. A sphere of light appeared between his palms.

"Lux Barricade!" he shouted, sending out a blast of light energy and forcing a hole into the door. "Well, that was easy." Perhaps too easy, he added mentally.

He slipped through the hole, and stepped further into the castle.

Though the interior was fairly well-designed, the castle, just like everything else, was – you guessed it – dark. Woohoo. It was also strangely...deserted. Shouldn't there be hordes of guards attacking him now?

Of course! The Hoshi thought, before speaking up, "I spent years trapped in a dimension with creatures like you. Do you really think I don't know you're there?!" He raised his fists into the air. "Revealing Light!"

Sparks of light flew out from his fists, revealing the shadowy beings that surrounded him. While they cringed at the sudden illumination, Daedalus slashed with his scimitar in a spinning motion, taking out the closest five in a single attack.

After a moment of staring at the bodies of their fallen comrades, the shadows snarled and leapt at the Hoshi. He managed to slay a few of them, but the number was entirely too great. They tore at him, relentless. At this rate, he would soon be done for.

I can't face all of them, he thought. If only...YES! I sense its presence nearby! I wonder if I could...

In one quick motion, the Hoshi spread his wings, knocking many shadows to the floor. Flapping his wings, he ascended a little.

"I call upon the power of Light!" he shouted, raising a hand into the air. "Crystal of Prismaya, I summon thee!"

* * *

Meanwhile, Prism was boredly scratching a picture into the stone wall beside her. Suddenly, the Shard of Light hanging on the opposite wall began to glow.

"What...?" Prism walked to the door of her cell to get a better look, and before her eyes, the Shard disappeared.

"What the HELL?!"

* * *

The shard appeared in Daedalus' hand. "Good Crystal."

He put the necklace on and stretched.

"Now for the fun stuff."

He formed a star in his hand, and threw it down to the shadow-guards below.

"StarBeam...ENVELOP!" he shouted, and a beam of light shot up from the floor, destroying a few of the shadows at once.

"Just like the good ol' days..." he chuckled. "Now for my favorite...the GRAND FINALE."

Daedalus cupped his hands together, and a star appeared between his palms. A sphere glowed around the star, growing bigger and bigger, and brighter each moment.

"Star..." he raised the sphere above his head; "ORB!" He threw the orb downward.

The orb shattered upon hitting the floor, releasing the stored energy from inside. This caused a loud explosion of light energy, which wiped out all the shadows on that floor, and shook the castle with great force.

"Well..." Daedalus chuckled as he descended to the floor. "If that doesn't get their attention, I don't know what will.”

He smirked, cleaned his sword, and proceeded further into the castle.