Chapter Family
Dozens of small airships whirred over Sanctuary, as they delivered aid and supplies. Several emergency medical facilities had been set up around the city. The morning sun revealed itself as the Valkyrie and Disceath Dreadnoughts were flown out from the airspace above the city and into the wastelands outside.
Ishtall soldiers marched through the town, arresting anyone who had been part of the Varlan Empire. Flags and propaganda were torn down from buildings and set ablaze in the streets.
Outside the city walls, The Wild Rose lay broken beyond repair, next to the smouldering ruins of the Airship that Varla Prime had stowed away on. A small airship came in to land on the roof of Sanctuary Labs, as it powered down, Atlas and Ariel stepped out and looked around.
"Home sweet home" Atlas smiled. Ariel smiled and nodded, but was surprised by the door to the roof swinging open and Ashe running toward her.
"You're home!" Ashe smiled as she hugged Ariel, she put her hand on Ariel's cheek and frowned.
"Your eye..." She said, as she ran her fingers over the patch.
"I'll manage just fine, don't worry about me" Ariel smiled as she kissed Ashe. Roisin ran outside and jumped with joy as she saw Atlas, who was busy surveying the damage to the city, she ran up behind him and hugged him.
"Holy...!" Atlas jumped in the air as Roisin hugged him, he spun around to see Roisin. "You scared the life outta me, kiddo" He smiled.
"We were so worried about you, when the news came that the shuttle had been hit, we assumed the worst" She sighed.
"Hah! You should have known better, kiddo" Atlas chuckled as he ruffled Roisin's hair. "I am a little famous for my flying skills, remember?" He teased, Roisin chuckled as she turned to see Ruby flying toward Atlas.
Atlas' eyes widened upon seeing the dragonet.
"A dragonet?" Atlas asked.
"Yeah, she's called Ruby, I named her after Mum" Roisin smiled. Atlas smiled at Roisin as he held out his arm for Ruby to land on, he looked into the Dragonet's eyes, and for a moment, he swore he saw his late sister's eyes looking back.
"Alas" Ruby mewed. Roisin backed up in surprise, and Ashe and Ariel turned their attention to the dragonet too.
"She spoke..." Roisin gasped. The small dragonet turned to Roisin and smiled.
"Roin" She squeaked. Roisin cheered and ran over to Ruby and fed her a treat. The dragonet mewed in approval. Dex and Lotte stepped outside, Lotte waved at Atlas.
"About time you arrived" Lotte smiled.
"I seem to be a little late for the action" Atlas sighed sarcastically. Lotte chuckled, as Dex walked over to Ariel.
"Good to see you, Dex" Ariel smiled.
"Indeed it is... I have something for you" Dex grinned.
"Huh, for me?" Ariel raised her eyebrow.
"Yeah, just close your eye" Dex nodded. Ariel shrugged and closed her eyes, as Dex held his hand over Ariel's missing eye.
"Argh... what?" Ariel backed away. "My eye feels weird" She said, lifting the eye patch to reveal both her eyes, Ariel blinked and lifted her hand to her face, and ran her fingers along where the scar should have been, to find it was gone. "How did you do that?" Ariel asked.
"Just a little skill I picked up" Dex winked. Ariel looked at the sky with both her eyes.
"You have awoken?" She asked, looking back to Dex, who nodded and smiled.
"It seems so, yes" Dex grinned.
Keegan approached Atlas and sighed.
"Atlas, I'm sorry for everything..." He said, as his eyes welled up. "I was stupid, and filled with hate" He added. Atlas put his hand on Keegan's shoulder and sighed deeply.
"Keegan" He said, as Keegan lifted his head to meet Atlas' gaze. "You are Ruby's son, you are my family, I've made mistakes too, as has Syl, and even Roisin. I love you as if you were my own child. When I discovered that you had lived, I was filled with joy, but then to see that Treleva had lead you down such a path, my heart broke. You deserved the same childhood as Roisin and Syl, and it hurts me so much more than you could ever imagine, to know that you grew up never knowing any of us. I'm glad you returned to us, and... I just love you, son" Atlas smiled as he pulled Keegan in for a hug.
Roisin then joined in on the hug.
"You are one of us, Keegan" Roisin smiled. Syl chuckled and joined in on the hug.
"Will be cool to have a bro for once" Syl chuckled.
Suddenly Dex joined in too.
"Hey, I'm a bro, right?" Dex laughed
"Damn right you are!" Syl smiled, and laughed. Ariel and Ashe then joined in.
"This is getting a little... uh crowded, guys" Keegan said in a muffled voice. Finally Lotte joined in.
"Team Luna for the win!" She laughed, as airships flew overhead, and work began on rebuilding the damag