[Melissa is sitting at her computer.  In the background, the Lunatacs are watching Thundercats videos and generally causing trouble.]

Melissa: All right, one of you lot come over here and give me an introduction to this story!

Psychro: Shh.  when you talk, we can't hear the TV.

Melissa: Like you guys aren't making enough noise as it is, what with your Nerf guns and Thundercats Drinking Game...  Tug-Mug!  Put my cat down!

Tug-Mug: But he likes eet. [Nevertheless, Tug-Mug uses his gravity carbine to get the cat down from where he was hovering near the ceiling.]

Melissa: If I don't get an introduction, I'm going to do really horrible things to all of you in my next story.

Chilla: You already have something like that.  It's called 'Lunatac Mayhem'.

Melissa: Jon's idea, not mine.  Hey, Mystan, you look vaguely bored.  How about you pry yourself away from the idiot box for two minutes?

Mystan: Oh, fine.  Here is Melissa's latest story.  It happens after 'I Think, Therefore I Am'. [There is a cheer in the background, followed by the sound of Nerf guns firing.] Great.  Sounds like I missed something good.

 

'Till Death Do Us Part

 

                The Lunattacker was parked on the narrow trail up Firerock Mountain.  Luna, alone for a change, sat in its shadow and watched as Psychro pulled something heavy out of Firerock Gorge with a long rope.  Momentarily, Red-Eye appeared over the edge of the canyon.  Once the Darkling regained his footing, Psychro sat down on a rock near Luna to catch his breath.

 

                "Here," said Red-Eye, tossing the belt to where Luna waited.

 

                Luna let out a squeal of glee.  "I knew it wasn't destroyed when Amok tossed it down the canyon!  I could feel it," the princess said happily.

 

                "Speaking of whom," said Psychro, leaning against the cool metal of the Lunattacker, "where is he?  And why go through all this bother for a belt?"

 

                "This is no ordinary belt, Psychro," Luna said, stroking it, "It's a magic belt."  The ice/psi hybrid made a face.  While he conceded that magic had its uses, he was generally distrustful of it.  In a good mood and not looking at him anyway, Luna continued, "It belonged to my grandmother, Queen Luna.  Seven thousand years ago, she fought Mumm-rana.  Mumm-rana defeated her, crippled her, stole her power, and fashioned it into this belt."

 

                "So that's why you're so tiny," said Psychro.

 

                Luna glared at him.  Of the four Lunatacs that had joined her crew those months ago, Psychro and Mystan were her least favourites.  At least you knew where you stood with Psychro; you wouldn't know what Mystan was thinking until the knife was in your back.  Unfortunately, they were both too useful to kick out.  Besides, Psychro's twin sister Psikaris was an engineering genius.  Luna had to keep her, if not happy, at least on staff.  To Psychro's question, she replied, "Yes.  It was a curse.  But as long as I wear Grandmother's belt, the curse is nullified.  Not only do I gain my true form and power that is my birthright, but Grandmother's power as well."

 

                "But that doesn't explain why you left Amok behind," the ice hybrid persisted.  "I figured he'd be happy that he wouldn't have to cart you around all day."

 

                The princess didn't dignify that with a response.  Only Luna and Amok knew for sure what happened when Luna had first taken the belt from Mumm-rana.  The other Lunatacs only heard about it later from Thundercat reports and logical deduction.  Mystan and the new Lunatacs hadn't arrived on Third Earth yet.  "Amok likes his job," shrugged Red-Eye.  "He didn't like being made obsolete."

 

                Psychro shrugged.  Apparently the answer was good enough for him.  "So you going to put it on now or wait until we get back to Skytomb?"

 

                She would gain nothing by waiting.  "Now," she said, motioning for Red-Eye to give her a hand up.  Once on her feet, she picked up the belt from the ground and put it on.

 

                The Darkling covered his sensitive eyes against the flaring magic that sprung up around Luna, and Psychro cringed back a bit, not wanting to be hit by a stray bolt.  Red-Eye was the first to speak.  "Luna, you're... looking tall."

 

                "This is what I should have been, if that Mumm-rana," she sneered the name, "didn't curse my grandmother."

 

                Psychro merely raised an eyebrow.  "It's an improvement, anyway.  Are we going back to Skytomb now or..."  A crashing sound from a higher elevation caught the attention of the Lunatacs.

 

                Luna's eyes widened as she looked up.  "Amok!  He must have followed me here."  She tried to run up the path, but tripped.  "Damn legs out of practice!"

 

                The Ice Runner swooped down, Chilla at the controls and Knave balanced on a wing.  "Amok ran off from Skytomb.  We've been tracking him, and... Luna, is that you?" Knave asked incredulously.

 

                She got to her feet with Psychro's help.  "Yes.  After him!  Bring him back!"  Chilla nodded and the Ice Runner took off again.  Then to Red-Eye and Psychro, "Trace them."

* * *

 

                "What's wrong with him?" Knave asked.

 

                Chilla shot a quick glance at her half-brother.  "About a month before you and the others crashed on Third Earth, Luna had found that belt she was wearing.  It gave her the powers that she would have had if her grandmother hadn't been cursed by Mumm-rana.  Amok didn't take to it then, either.  He threw the belt into Firerock Gorge to destroy it."

 

                "But why would Amok be upset about this?"

 

                "Who knows what he thinks?" said Chilla in a tone that also said that she didn't care, either.  "Anyway, there he is.  Dumb brute finally ran out of energy."  She landed the Ice Runner and approached the guardian.  "Come along, Amok.  Luna says to bring you back."

 

                Amok shook his massive head and sat miserably on the ground.  "Luna doesn't need Amok."

 

                "Look on the bright side," said Knave, "You don't have to be her ride any more."  Sullen silence greeted the ice Lunatac/cheetah hybrid.

 

                "Don't be stubborn, Amok," said Chilla.  "Look, come back to Skytomb and I'll see if I can find some candy for you."

 

                "No.  Luna doesn't need Amok."

 

                Knave was torn between total exasperation with the guardian Lunatac and worry that even the offer of candy didn't move him.  He didn't understand.  As far as Knave knew, getting her power and proper form were major goals of Luna's.  She would be happy, and usually when Luna was happy, so was Amok.  Chilla looked slightly more worried than annoyed, and since she knew Amok better, Knave went with that.  "Come on, Amok," said Knave stepping towards him, "We just want to... what?.."

 

                Chilla caught Knave as his legs buckled.  Amok didn't seem to be paying attention.  "What happened?" Chilla asked.

 

                Still leaning against his half-sister for support, Knave replied, "I'm... not sure.  I was just overwhelmed with images and feelings.  I can't remember now.  A failure, a debt, but no details."

 

                "You're half cheetah," said Chilla slowly, "And we know you have a bit of psychic ability.  And Alluro once told me..."

 

                "My head already hurts," grumbled Knave.  "You don't have to mention that pain-in-the-neck."

 

                "Alluro once told me," Chilla continued, ignoring him, "that guardian Lunatacs are very psychically active.  But since it's all defence, we usually can't see its manifestations.  That's what makes Amok immune to Alluro, and even Mystan's powers."

 

                Knave tried to stand without support.  "I think I see, sister.  A guardian cannot be influenced, cannot receive..."

 

                "But perhaps he can send," finished the ice woman.  "He'd be thinking about it hard enough for you to pick up on.  Am I right, Amok?"  The great beast didn't answer.  Either he was ignoring them or he didn't actually know.  Both were possible.  "Knave, do you think you could try to pick up on his thoughts again?  Maybe we could figure out what's going on."

 

                The ice cheetah nodded, and stretched his meagre psychic abilities towards Amok.  Again he staggered, but Chilla caught him by the shoulders.  "I'm getting something," Knave rasped.  "A vision.  Of Luna... no, it's not.  Her hair's too short and there's four white streaks.  She's hurt, or ill.  There's a man with her, another one of the royal Lunatacs.  He's very tall... no, I'm just seeing things through Amok's eyes.  He's trying to comfort the tiny woman.  She's in great pain.  Another is there.  A psi woman.  Dark pink skin.  Blonde hair.  She's trying to help, but she can't.  Pain and blood and failure.  A debt unpayable..."

 

                "Knave!"  The strain of intense psychic contact drained the ice cheetah, leaving Chilla to support his weight entirely.  Which she could do easily, but instead set him carefully on the ground.  She looked up as the Lunattacker drove up.  Amok ran off again.  "Amok, get back here... oh, forget it," Chilla grumbled.

 

                "What happened to him?" asked Red-Eye.

 

                "Psychic overload," Chilla explained, then repeated Knave's vision to them.

 

                Leaning on the Lunattacker for support, Luna's face had gone ashen.  "Great Yerith, I think I understand..." she reached into the draconic tank and hit the radio.  "Tug-Mug!  This is Luna.  Answer!"

 

                "What now?" the heavily accented voice grumbled over the radio.

 

                "Quickly, Tug-Mug.  How old is Amok?"

 

                You could hear the graviton's eyes roll at the question.  "How should I know?  He was beeg when I was small."

                Luna flipped the connection off.  While Chilla and Psychro both gave her curious looks, Red-Eye was the one to ask, "Why his age?"

 

                The Lunatac princess turned to her subordinates.  "Get Knave back to Skytomb.  I'll go after Amok myself.  If Knave gets any more images, you are to tell me immediately."

 

                As Chilla put the still-unconscious Knave into the Lunattacker, Psychro said, "What's going on, Luna?  What's all this about?"

 

                Moving slowly away, trying to get used to the feel of walking on her own, Luna said, "The woman in the vision wasn't sick.  She was pregnant."

 

* * *

 

                Princess Artemys knew the risks of pregnancy, knew of that which killed her mother.  Queen Luna, carrying the child of her consort, the Lord Yerith himself, survived Rana's attack only to be killed by her own daughter.

 

                Childbirth tore the yerin queen apart.

 

                Now Artemys could believe it.  Each contraction brought another wave of pain.  Her own consort, Midnight, stood by her, held her hand, tried to convince her that everything was going to be fine.  Nearby was the sandweller Sonara, the closest thing to a doctor and midwife in the City of Demons.

 

                There was another in the room, watching silently.  Sonara had tried to shoo him out, but Midnight protested that the other had loved Artemys even longer than he had.  Had he not watched over Artemys since she was a baby, charged by Queen Luna herself to guard and care for her child?  With a few admonishings to stay out of the way, Sonara allowed Amok to remain.

 

                The yerin princess screamed as tearing pains shot through her body.  Midnight snapped at the midwife, "You're supposed to be the great hypnotist!  Help her!"

 

                "I've done all I can," Sonara retorted.  Even when angry, her voice was beautiful.  "Even my power has its limits.  Maybe I should use it to get you out of my way..."

 

                The great beast in the corner grunted, "Work."  And since it was rare for him to speak at all, the two were startled back to business.

 

                Still though, Sonara muttered general abuse under her breath.  "Great Yerith, what were the two of you thinking?  Artemys is too small to safely have a baby.  I might be able to stop the bleeding and sew her up in time, but it's an incredible risk..."

                "I know, Sonara, I know," said Midnight in obvious agony.  "But she wanted a child so badly..."

 

                Another scream cut him off.  "Dammit," hissed the sandweller, "this baby isn't waiting.  Midnight, make yourself useful.  I need every second I can get to stop Artemys' bleeding.  You'll have to deliver the baby."

 

                "But I don't know how..."

 

                "Just catch, okay?"

 

                The purple-haired man looked ill for a second, then considered the alternatives and rolled up his sleeves.  Under Sonara's curt directions, Midnight was able to deliver the tiny infant.

 

                He didn't have time to wonder at it, though; Sonara was shouting at him to help her.  Not knowing what else to do, he handed the mewling baby to Amok.

 

                Amok looked down at the child curled in his massive hand.  She was, like all babies, ugly.  In addition, she was still covered in blood and birthing fluids.  The flurry of activity at the table drew Amok's attention back to the table.  Both Sonara and Midnight were splattered with blood, working furiously.

 

                Sonara whacked her palm on the table in frustration.  "No, no, no... Work with me, Arty, come on..."  Despite the best efforts of the psi woman, it was soon evident that it was a losing battle.  The bloodloss and massive injury were too much for the tiny yerin princess.  Sonara sagged back against a counter.  "Midnight, I'm sorry.  I can't..."

 

                Cradling the still form of his tiny consort, Midnight murmured, "I understand.  The baby?.."

 

                The sandweller took the baby from a reluctant Amok.  "She's fine."  Sonara carried the child over to the sink and began cleaning her off.  "I guess you're our leader now, Midnight."

 

                "Until my child grows up.  Then the title automatically goes to her."

 

                "Did you two decide on a name?"

 

* * *

 

                "LUNA!"  Knave surged awake with a shout.  Chilla was beside him in an instant, holding his shoulders.  Alluro arrived seconds later.

 

                "Not quite short enough," said the hypnotist dryly.  "I never expected to hear of anyone being psychically blasted by Amok."

 

                The ice cheetah shook his head, too dazed to be argumentative.  "Not his fault.  There were too many images."

 

                "Ah, so you lost consciousness so your unconscious mind could sort the information," Alluro said.  "Well?  What did you learn?"

 

                "I dreamed..."

 

* * *

 

                Luna shut off the communicator as soon as Knave's report on his dream was over, then crushed it under her boot.  She didn't want to deal with the questions the others would no doubt ask.

 

                She walked through the forest, occasionally calling Amok.  Her stride had improved with practice; walking had become automatic.  The guardian's track was easy to follow.  Just because Amok could move quietly when he wanted to didn't mean that he didn't leave an obvious trail of crushed underbrush.

 

                Eventually she caught up to the creature.  "Amok?.. wait," she said, when it looked like Amok was going to run off again.  He stayed put, perhaps because he was exhausted.  Luna said, "Knave told me the images he got from your mind.  The memories.  My earliest memories were of you, Amok, but I never knew you were my mother's guardian."

 

                The huge Lunatac didn't respond, merely squeezed shut his eyes in an I'm-not-listening-to-you expression.  Luna rested one hand on a massive bicep and continued, "You think you failed her, don't you, Amok?  Because she died and you couldn't help her.  It wasn't your fault.  There was nothing you could do.  Nothing anyone could do."

 

                Amok shook his head.  "Can't pay."

 

                Luna sat down on the ground, resting against the guardian.  "You don't need to protect me any more.  Any debt you feel you have to my mother is over."

 

                The only response was a miserable silence.  Apparently Amok wasn't satisfied with that.  But how was she supposed to convince a guardian that he didn't need to guard any more?

 

* * *

 

                Luna and Amok had been missing for several days.  Once in a while, someone suggested searching, but the others pointed out that both Luna and Amok could look after themselves.  If they were gone, it meant they didn't want to be found.  In the meantime, Mystan had taken over as the leader of the Lunatacs.

 

                It was the night-shift.  Mystan was always on duty at night.  He had been for several weeks.  Those weeks ago he had made a deal with the demon lord Lilith for the power to kill Amok and overthrow Luna.  She twisted his request and made him a vampire.  As the Lunatacs were already demons, it didn't change him much.  He was stronger and faster, yes, but mostly he had to drink blood and avoid sunlight.  Needless to say, he hated his life.

 

                Luna had caught on to his plans when the brutemen started dying, and avoided his assassination attempt.  But instead of killing him, she let him live, knowing how much his nature disgusted him.  Besides, she found him useful.  So yet again did Mystan find himself grudgingly working for Luna.

 

                A monitor beeped and the telekinetic pulled himself from his musings and went to the main viewer.  He patched the feed through, gasped, and reached for the intercom.

 

* * *

 

                "This is crazy.  There's no way she'll survive this."  The rest of the Lunatacs had answered Mystan's urgent summons, and watched the scene unfold on the main view screen.  Energy flared between Luna and Lilith as they fought across Darkside.  Psychro shook his head.  "I mean, I know she's got her magic belt, but Lilith's a full-blown demon lord."

 

                "But weakened," murmured Mystan.

 

                "Perhaps," said Chilla, "But Lilith is the better warrior."

 

                "Luna appears to be holding her own," said Alluro.

 

                "Should we help her?" asked Psikaris.  "Charge up the moon-cannons or something?"

 

                "And draw thee demon queen's attention?  No way," said Tug-Mug.

 

                "Look!" called Red-Eye, though it was several seconds before the others could see what the Darkling saw.  Amok leapt out from behind a rocky outcropping.  Lilith turned to blast him, but Luna caught her first, using the elder creature's distraction to gain a clear shot.  As the demon queen tried to regain her footing, Amok pounced on her, slamming her into the ground with his massive fists.

 

                After several minutes, Luna gestured Amok to stop.  Knave shook his spotted mane.  "No way she survived that.  It's just not possible."

 

                "Shh, brother," said Chilla, "Stranger things happened during the war."  Amok had lifted Lilith by the shoulders, presumably so Luna could talk with her.  Though her movements were slow and broken, the demon queen seemed to respond.  After a few minutes, an agreement seemed to be reached.  There was a flare of prismatic light on the plain...

 

                ... matched by one in Skytomb's control room.  They stood as they did outside, Luna several steps away from Amok, on his hind legs, holding Lilith up by her shoulders.  The Lunatac princess was fairly beat up, but Lilith was a wreak.  The only places her dark gray skin wasn't bruised was where it was torn, dripping greenish ichor.  Luna looked around, mildly startled.  "Oh, so you're all here.  Saves me the trouble of calling you.  Mystan, step forward."

 

                The telekinetic did so, very slowly.  As a vampire, he was lilin and belonged to Lilith.  The other Lunatacs took a few steps away from him.  Judging by what happened to Lilith, Mystan's fate was not going to be pleasant.

 

                Luna looked at him, then back to Lilith.  "Fix him.  Make him yerin again."

 

                Though she had no visible pupils, Mystan could tell when Lilith's eyes and attention shifted to him.  He resisted the urge to step backwards, and was rewarded with a flare of green light and almost unendurable pain.  He sagged to the ground in a crumpled heap.

 

                Prodding the sandweller with her foot, satisfied he was still alive, Luna turned back to Lilith.  Through her mangled jaw, the demon queen hissed, "My part of the bargain is kept.  Keep yours."

 

                At a signal, Amok let Lilith go.  Unsupported, she could barely stand, but she still managed to look defiant.  Energy gathered around Luna, collected in the large gem of the belt, and lashed out at Lilith.  When the light faded, the elder demoness was gone.

 

                "Er, welcome back, Luna," said Psychro.

 

                "What happened to... her?" asked Alluro, indicating where Lilith had stood.

 

                It took a few seconds for Luna to respond.  "Exorcism.  In exchange for Mystan and her word to leave the yerin alone, I sent her back to the Hell she crawled out of.  Her power will return to her faster there."

 

                "And you trust that creature?" asked Chilla incredulously.

                "Because... they were once Pure, ... the Fallen... must always... keep their word."  Mystan was back on his feet, leaning heavily on Tug-Mug.  He ran a hand through his gray hair, then looked up at Luna with a mix of wonder and curiosity.  "You took me back though I sought your usurpation and death."

 

                Luna looked down at the telekinetic.  Though on her own two feet she was shorter than when she used to sit on Amok, she still had a few inches on Mystan.  "We may have our differences, Mystan, but you are Lunatac."

 

                Mystan took his weight off of Tug-Mug, then dropped to his knees, raising his hands to Luna in supplication and offering.  "Sar Luna, granddaughter to Lord Yerith himself, to you I pledge my loyalty and my life.  You will I faithfully serve until my last breath."

 

                The others watched the scene with curious eyes, wondering how Luna would take the sandweller's offer of loyalty, and if she would believe him at all.  She said, "I accept your offer, Mystan of the Benekasbeel Clan.  Moreover, I officially name you my second.  Arise and take your place."

 

                The telekinetic got to unsteady feet.  Impromptu ceremony over, the other Lunatacs left.  The excitement was over and they wanted to get back to sleep.  Luna and Amok were the last to leave, Mystan still being on night-watch.  "I still don't trust you," hissed the Lunatac princess.  "Consider this a second chance."

 

* * *

 

                In her room, Luna encountered a few more unforseen difficulties.  The first was that she wanted to take a shower.  Her hair felt disgusting and she was covered in dust and blood from her fight with Lilith.  However, if she took off her belt, she'd lose her powers.  In the end, she decided that since it was a magic belt, it could survive a little water.

 

                She stepped out of the shower and Amok handed her a towel.  That was usual.  Her sudden attack of modesty was not.  Quickly wrapping the first around herself she demanded a second.  As Amok shuffled off to find one, she wondered at that.  This was Amok, for Yerith's sake; guardian, companion, Hells, he was practically a surrogate mother.  She'd never been modest around him before.  Of course, she thought with a slight smile, she never had anything to be modest about before.

 

                The next problem was clothes.  All the ones she owned were designed for someone half her size.  She's have to borrow something from Chilla or Psikaris... or not.  When she put on the magic belt, her clothes changed with her.  Maybe she could magically alter her other outfits.

 

                That could wait until morning.  Dry now, she wanted to sleep.  The usual sight of her guardian curled on the rug at the foot of her bed reminded her of her last and biggest problem.

 

                What was she supposed to do about Amok?

 

 

The End.

 

Mystan: Oh, so now I have to work for Luna without plotting against her?

Melissa: You want to get on the bad side of someone who beat a demon lord?

Mystan: Point taken.

Melissa: Next issue: 'Yerith's Legacy'.  Be there or be a rectangular thing.

Mystan: Toooo much 'Discworld'.

 

 

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