Amneris woke up in her bed, Kayla and Leo looking down at her. She took one look at their expressions and knew she was in some sort of trouble. The last thing she remembered was zapping her Court to the forest on the edge of Lapide. Now she was in her obsidian-painted room, the silver lights glowing softly, and had her Healer and General glaring intensely at her. It was the look she was given often, especially after bailing members of her Court out of trouble. She knew that she gave them the same look on occasion.

Amneris attempted to sit up only for Leo to push her down, holding her in place as Kayla held her glowing hands over the sheets. A faint tingle went over Amneris’ body as Kayla worked her magic. When Amneris sat up after she finished, she was allowed to stay that way though Leo’s fury showed no signs of vanishing. It took a lot of self-control to not slap her General. Sure, he probably had her best interests in mind, but she was still the Queen. Did I actually just consider pulling rank on him? A sidelong glance at Kayla. Maybe I need a bit more than what she gave me, after all.

“Amneris and I have to do something important,” Leo told the Healer who took that as her cue to leave. Once she had, Leo raised a hand to stop Amneris speaking so he could go on his rant. Well, it certainly sounded like a rant. “I know you are reckless and insane, but even you should have known that was a bad decision. You haven’t used your power in sixteen years.” He leaned down until their heads almost touched. “What in the multiverse were you thinking?”

“I was thinking of getting my Court out of danger,” she countered, forcing him back. “I was thinking of escaping before one of us was taken prisoner by a Terpolite warrior. Again.” That last word was what made her give a pointed look to her General who had been one of those taken. She did not remind him often of what had happened when he had made that decision, but it was certainly a good way to win an argument.

“You should have let me do it,” Leo hissed. “For all we know, you could have fallen into another power coma.”

Point taken. Amneris looked down to her still-glowing hands. What he had said was true. She had fallen into a coma for a few months the last time a large amount of her power was used. Nikki and Leo had been the ones to look after things while she was asleep. From what she was told after waking up, Terpola had found out she was comatose and become out of control, even for the dark planet. That was something none of her Court wanted to go through again. It had been utter chaos until she woke up, causing the Terpolite warriors to retreat. Her General had become more concerned over her using her power after that.

She studied Leo before speaking, choosing her words carefully. The General was well known for his temper, though he did not lose it often. “We can finish this later,” she started. “Right now, we have to go to Erstonia and get Linlyn before Tara does.”

He raised a hand to his head. “You won’t even rest for five minutes, will you?”

Amneris cocked her head to the side, a small smile appearing. “What’s rest?”

Leo rolled his eyes but gave in. “Do not use magic unless you have to and please – please don’t start another war.”

She made an irritated noise at the accusation. “It wasn’t a war. It was a fight that lasted a few days.” She groaned as his eyes narrowed. “Just take us to the gods dammed planet.”

* * * * * * * *

Erstonia was one of the brightest planets Amneris new of. Due to the fact it was the homeworld of the Light-Benders, it was hardly surprising that the planet was always, well, bright. Everything seemed to glow, especially at night. It did not matter if it was a small flower or the houses of the gemstone towns. The glow was a lot let obvious in sunlight, but it was still there.

When the pair arrived, they were started by the sudden temperature change. They forgot that it was now snow-season on this world. They were quickly reminded when they sunk knee-deep into the latest snow-cover, heavy fluffy flakes still falling from the clear sky. The snowflakes glowed silver and white, the colour more obvious in the moonless, star-filled night. The glow gave them enough light to see where they were going.

Rubbing at her bare arms, Amneris considered summoning a warmer set of clothes, only to have a sudden softness brush against her skin. Looking down, she saw that she was now in cold-weather clothing and fur-lined snow boots. A fur-lined jacket appeared around her shoulders as Leo ruffled her hair. “Since when do you have a fashion sense?” she asked him.

Leo huffed, zipping up his own parka and putting his hands in his pockets but leaving the hood down. “I told you, no more magic.”

She hissed, pulling her own hood over her head. “Let’s just go to the town.”

Alryne, the town they were heading for, was a short walk from the town. The knee-deep snow made it longer as there was more effort in walking. The town itself was lit up – hardly surprising – with light bouncing off the gemstone houses. Amneris shielded her eyes as a child accidently shot a beam of reflected light into her eyes. They apologised as they ran off, Leo laughing at what just happened. Amneris shoved a snowball into his face.

Music and laughter became louder as they approached the town’s centre where there was a glowing azure frozen fountain. Familiar faces waved at the pair, a few coming over for a high-five or hug. It was far from their first time in Alryne and they were always welcome. Well, that was what the council of elders had told them after Zoe joined the Court.

A woman was waiting for the pair at the edge of the fountain, bundled up in warm clothing and snowflakes in her cream hair. “Midra!” Amneris exclaimed, embracing the woman who she had known since she was a child. Time had been kind to her.

Midra Young grinned at the pair. “I was beginning to think you two would be late.”

“Us? Never.”

Leo interrupted what would have turned into a catchup session before it even started. “Did you speak to the Council?” A nod. “And?”

The woman cringed, a pale hand tugging at her short straight hair. “Well, they said they would give it to you if you do something in return.”

Amneris closed her eyes. “Please don’t say steal from Apollo. I think he’s still pissed at me from last time I did that.”

“Not Apollo,” Midra started slowly. “See, we had this crystal. Absolutely gorgeous. Filled with pure sunlight. It stolen and sold to a certain goddess. Nyx.”

“Nyx!” Amneris exclaimed, her mouth agape.

“Ironic much?” Leo muttered, surprised but far less obvious about it.

“It was sold to the primordial deity of night?” Amneris asked.

“Thus, the ironic thing,” Leo said.

Midra nodded. “No one has tried to steal it back from her. Who am I kidding?” She spread her arms helplessly. “No one has even tried to ask her to give it back to us.”

“No one would,” Amneris agreed. “Primordial Goddess.” She had met the goddess before. That had been quite some time ago. It was a bad idea to go to the Personification of nigh, even if you had an army. She had heard a story of it happening before. Only one or two members of that army had returned, from what she was told. “I’m guessing you want us to steal the crystal?”

A cringe from the Light-Bender woman. “Something along those lines.”

Amneris turned to her General who seemed unsure of what to make of the situation they had unintendedly agreed to. “At least this won’t be boring.”

* * * * * * * *

Amneris and Leo stood next to a stone arch covered in glyphs from the many different generations of Light-Benders. They all meant the same thing. This arch was a gateway to the Underworld – a realm of the dead. Not something you’d think to find on a world all about life, Amneris thought, surprised that she never knew the arch existed. Still, she was able to make it work as seen by the glyphs which glowed gold. It was neither her nor Leo’s first time standing at a gateway to the world beyond. They were both technically dead, after all. Even so, neither of them were thrilled to be going back, especially to the part of the Underworld they were headed to this time. A part that everyone – living and not – avoided where possible.

“Why Nyx?” Leo wandered aloud as they waited for their guide who Amneris had called moments ago.

“Well, she is powerful, one of the first gods, personification of the night itself, pri–”

“I get it!” He crossed his arms. “What I don’t get is why we have to do this.”

Why is it always us? he was asking. Amneris lowered her brows. “Only the dead can enter Underworld,” she said darkly before changing to her usual tone. “You really have to pull some strings to do it if you’re alive and/or mortal. Don’t even get me started on what Hercules had to do.” A laugh. “Even if you are like us, you still need a guide.”

“Who’d you call?”

Amneris sighed, the only sign she had shown so far of not wanting to do this. “Dog boy.”