When the meteor blazed across the night sky, it looked like someone had chucked a radioactive emerald from space. People were screaming, pointing, and one elderly Aurorian shouted, "THE GODS DROPPED A FRUIT AGAIN!" (We still don't know what that means.)
Me and Firehair didn't even hesitate. We sprinted straight to the impact site like two action stars with matching dramatic slow-motion wind in our hair, flanked by generals, elite soldiers, and My father, who was there mostly to look intimidating and grunt meaningfully.
The meteor had created a giant crater—like *festival-size* big. It was covered in blazing green fire, just floating gently around the rock like cosmic mist. Firehair narrowed her eyes, feeling something off. "There's… a presence inside it," she whispered.
Aethonix cracked his knuckles. "Cool. Let's punch it."
I looked at her and just nodded. "Welp. Guess we're fighting a flaming alien rock demon today."
She cracked her knuckles. "If it moves, I'm roasting it."
The soldiers looked concerned. Firehair was ready to incinerate the thing. And Cronus? He was in the back sketching the meteor's impact trajectory like a nerdy squirrel.
---
**Punch First, Ask Later**
After what felt like forever—okay maybe 2 hours—me, Firehair, my dad, the generals, soldiers, some nosy villagers with popcorn, and even one guy who brought a goat, just watched the meteor sizzle. Everyone was standing there like, "Is it gonna hatch?" "Is this the apocalypse?" "Do we get lunch breaks?"
Eventually I said, "Alright, I'm done. I'm going in."
Aethonix, being the himbo genius that he is, walked down into the crater, placed a hand on the burning rock, and casually punched it, (yes, my version of knocking), and that thing cracked open like an overcooked lava egg.
What came out? Black-green goo. And inside that?
**Splat.**
Black-green goo oozed out like alien slime. "Uhh... that's not normal," he muttered.
Then, from inside the meteor, **a woman** emerged. She was bound in glowing shackles, wearing a tattered black dress that honestly looked like it belonged on a villainous fashion runway, that screamed "I'm powerful and probably dangerous, but also serving looks."
Her long hair flowed unnaturally, and her bruised skin shimmered faintly.
Aethonix: *Wow, she's kinda—*
Firehair: "Put. Her. Down."
Aethonix: "Y-Yes ma'am."
Firehair: eyeroll level 3000
He awkwardly looked away as he used his **Appraisal Skill**, because why *not* scan unconscious cosmic women?
> **Name:** Umar
> **Race:** Faltine
> **Age:** Immortal
> **Abilities:** Ancient Sorcery, Unquantifiable Dark Energy (oh boy)
"Uhh... Firehair? We might have a spicy one here," Aethonix said, blinking nervously.
Firehair's eyes *ignited*—literally. "**Kill her.**"
"Whoa! Chill! Jealousy doesn't look good on a flame goddess," Aethonix joked.
Firehair: "She reeks of dark energy. I've felt it before. Dormammu's signature."
Aethonix suddenly stood straighter. "Dormammu? Like, the flaming head guy who eats dimensions for breakfast?"
Firehair nodded seriously. "Her energy is nearly identical."
"...Let's not kill her then. Yet. Y'know, cause—uh—human rights? Space rights? Whatever we believe in."
---
**Sleepy Sorceress & Sad Goodbyes**
So, they transported Umar to a **high-security, rune-protected prison** built under the capital. Firehair personally *forged* the containment spells. Just in case.
"Also, no touching her shackles. No talking to her. No spoon-feeding unless you're wearing six layers of enchantments. Got it?" Firehair growled.
Yeah. She was 100% jealous. But we let her have that.
**Months passed.**
And Umar? Still asleep. Like, power-napping at legendary levels. Not even a twitch. Firehair checked her pulse every week like it was a grudge.
---
Then came **the hardest moment**.
One evening, as Aethonix braided Firehair's hair (they had bonding traditions, okay), she looked at him sadly.
"I have to return to Earth. The cosmic balance is shifting… and I sense something big. Maybe Celestials. Maybe something worse."
Aethonix's heart dropped like a sword off a table. "Can I come with you?"
She shook her head. "Your people need you. You're not just a warrior. You're their Young King. Their future."
That night, they spent time together. Just lying under the glowing stars in silence. No funny business. Just love. Aethonix, despite everything, was a gentleman. He held her hand, brushed her cheek, and kissed her softly.
He whispered, "I'm going to miss your chaos… your fire… even the way you roast me every time I try to flirt."
Firehair smiled. "You're dramatic."
"And you're my everything."
---
**Departure Day**
As she rose into the air, glowing like a star herself, Aethonix shouted, "COME BACK SOON! I already miss you! My siblings miss you! My Arsu misses you! The bakery lady even made your favorite cookies!"
She laughed, "Don't worry. I'll be back… if you don't replace me with a sleeping space lady."
Aethonix blushed so hard, half the soldiers noticed.
---
**One Year Later…**
Still no sign of Firehair.
Still no movement from Umar.
Still no idea if Dormammu's watching.
[Cronus moments
Cronus made a **wind-powered generator**,
discovered **compressed Linuar energy**, and invented **Linuar-powered toothbrushes**. (Don't ask.) ]
Aethonix kept smiling. But deep inside, he missed his flaming chaos queen more than he could admit.
And as the stars above twinkled silently, he looked up and whispered:
"Come back soon… before I accidentally fall in love with a magical coma patient."
**To be continued...**
---