Alex’s night out

## Summary

Alex wants to do something special for Athena, but gets confronted by some of the fake realm guy's underdogs, who are revealed to be some kids who bullied Alex during their childhood. Alex, with faith by their side, rallies Athena, and several other members to form a guardian gang to fight against Byron's lackeys. Once they are defeated, Alex must also rescue one of Cyrus's twin daughters, Estrella when she is kidnapped and held for ransom.

## Characters

* Alex
* Athena
* Mae
* Nova
* Sandy
* Sunset
* Cyrus
* Aurora
* Polaris
* Eber
* Faye
* Snail

### fake realm guy's underdogs

* James
* Arlo
* Birch
* Clyde
* Enzo
* Macie
* Ivy
* Chesney (eventually reformed)
* Cain
* Abel
* Kindling (Kin)

## Alex's POV

I see the sun dip below the horizon, and look up to see the sky lined with stars.

The last few weeks have been exhausting, both for me, and for other guardians. There's been a wave of raids from Vex labs, all orchestrated by Sandra. After all the fighting ceased, I went home and slept for 2 days. When I woke up, my brain and my mouth were too burnt out to connect. For now I have other ways of communication, at least until some of my energy comes back.

I spot Athena enter the house, her wavy hair tied in a messy bun. As she settles on the couch, I drift towards her and plant a kiss on her forehead. Our eyes drift towards the silver rings on both our fingers, acquired after I proposed to Athena. Us getting married isn't for a long time, but it is a symbolic gesture.

"Hey Alex." she says. "I've been thinking, maybe we could go out, just the two of us."

"Yes." I sign. "But we need to watch out for Anubis. He could be hiding anywhere for all I care."

"Alexander, relax." Athena says, brushing one hand across my cheek. "I don't want you worrying about him. Your parents will take care of him. Right now I just want us to enjoy ourselves."

"Okay." I whisper. "When we go out, let's find a place to eat that has a low noise space. The dimmer the lighting, the less people there are, the better."

"Then let's go."

We walk through the plaza, warmly lit by light orbs. The sounds of laughter and reverie float past us.

I spot a restuarant which is lit dimmer than what I normally see.

"We found it." I say. We're about to enter when I spot a flash of green eyes, and messy fur. The smell of old food hits my nose.

I hear Anubis' nasally, grating voice, along with sniveling and laughter, and some disheveled looking kids following him. Athena and I go invisible and silently sneak closer to them.

I spot him harshly manhandling a bundle, and the blanket lifts slightly to reveal the child's tiny face. She looks like Cyrus, but has brown fur, thick curly ringlets, and silver eyes. I spot a soft glow coming from her gem, which is star shaped.

It's Estrella. One of Cyrus' daughters.

A tear streams down her face, and she lets out a piercing wail.

"Oh SHUT UP, you little brat!" Darcy yells. She nearly strikes the child, but I rush forward and punch Darcy in the face, knocking her out.

Anubis runs off, but I hear a soft, childlike, slightly raspy voice in my head. It quivers fearfully. I know the voice.

It's Estrella. Estrella talking to me. Since she is an infant, her words are short, simple. But her emotions flood my mind.

"Are you okay, Estie?" I whisper.

*Help* she says. *I'm scared. Everything hurting.*

"Don't worry." I say. "We'll find you. I promise."

I grab Athena's hand. "We need to save Estie."

She nods. "Dinner can wait. Right now we need to find Cyrus first. Estrella needs them."

*Baba will find me?* Estrella says softly. *I want Baba. I want you.*

*Yes.* I reply. *We will be there, sweetie. I promise.*

I feel a glimmer of hope, both my own, and from Estrella.

We teleport over to Cyrus and Eclipse' home, where Cyrus waits.

"Bad news." I say. "Estrella's been kidnapped."

"Anbis." Cyrus growls. "I'd never knew he'd kidnap my Estrella, but that does it. I'm going to go over there and punch his lying, dirt covered face!"

The phone rings, Cyrus picks it up, and their brow furrows.

"Hello Cyrus." Anubis' voice says on the other end. "Come to get the brat of yours?"

"Yes, asshole! She's been calling out to me for a long time!"

Anubis snorts. "Babies can't talk."

"Oh, but they can." Cyrus replies. "Haven't you forgotten that Estrella has telepathy?"

## Cyrus' POV

I hear wailing on the other end, then Estrella's voice in my head.

*Baba...help me. Many scary people.*

A tear streams down my face. I struggle not to cry.

*Everything's going to be okay, Estrella. I will be back for you, dear one. I promise.*

"I'm going to get them back." I say. "And you can't do anything about it."

"I can. I'm all powerful." Anubis says.

"No, you're *not!*" I yell. "Fuck you, dirtbag! Once I'm done with you, you can haul that sniveling butt of yours off to prison!"

I suit up with a cloak. "I tracked him. He's hiding my daughter in one of Vex labs' lairs."

My voice cracks.

"If...If they kill Estrella, I won't ever forgive them. My children mean everything to me." I face my mother. "Like how you said that Sunset and I mean everything to you."

She smiles, faint lines forming next to the corners of her eyes. "Be safe, my child."

"I will, Mamá." I reply.

"And I will be here when you get back. Give Estrella my love."

I nod. "I will. She needs all of us."

We teleport over to the darkened forest, where I spot a dilapidated building with the words "VEX LABS" on the front.

Alex and I go invisible and sneak in.

Fear grips my mind. Estrella's fear.

*Help. Darkness. Noise. Please come back*

*You'll be okay* I say, trying to slow my breathing, my heart ridden with anxiety and sorrow. *Everything will be okay. I promise*

"It's go time." I whisper. "She needs me."

*Baba, don't leave me.* she says

*I won't.* I say. *I'll stay with you until we get there.*

After passing through several bushes, and poorly disguised lab workers, we find Anubis’ lair. I throw on a lab coat, and a mask, and sneak inside.

What if Estrella won’t recognize me?

I creep into a dusty room, where I spot Estrella lying in a pile of dirty clothes. She looks up at me, and her expression changes from fear to pure joy.

“It’s me, sweetheart.” I whisper. I scoop her up in both arms and wrap her in the blanket I stashed in my satchel, then sling her on my back.

“Stop.” I hear a raspy voice. The type of raspy that sounds like gravel, instead of the subtle huskiness Estrella’s voice has.

“You forgot to pay.” Anubis says. “Or say bye bye to that little brat of yours. Is she even yours?” Darcy lunges towards me. I grab my guitar and pin both of them against the wall with a pluck of the strings.

“No.” I growl. “No ransom, no imprisonment, no nothing. I am not letting you harm my daughter. And speaking of ‘Is she even yours?’ Yes she is. She grew from *inside of me.* Why does she have these fur and eye colors? They’re my *mother’s* colors. There you have it, genetics.”

I release them, their bodies dropping with a thud. They scramble away, but I hit them with a sleeping spell.

“Come on.” I say. “Let’s run.”

I feel someone jump towards me.

“I hungwy!” Estrella says.

“Not now, love.” I say. “We’re on a stealth mission. I can’t feed you right now. Please stay quiet.”

“Surprise, losers!” the fake realm guy appears.

“Oh my god.” I say. “AGAIN?!”

“Now I’m just going to point this at you and you’ll calmly march back to prison where you belong.” he says. Estrella pops up from the sling on my chest and bites him in the nose.

“OW!” he says. “Little imp.”

“Ha ha!” Estrella crows. “Rarararaaar meanface ARGLEARRG! No poofypoof. Bye Bye fakey!”

“Hah.” I say. “You did good.”

“AAAAAAAA! Next time I’m going to kill all of you!” Byron screams.

“Meh meh meh meh meh meh meh!” Estrella mimics him. “Ummm…Nonono. Baba sabeeday!”

“Yes.” I say. *We saved the night, actually.*

“Yayayayayaaaaay!” Estrella squeals.

Alex chuckles. “Talks a lot, doesn’t she.”

Estrella’s stomach growls. “I hungweeeeee!” she whines.