A bond beyond worlds

The Akarihoshi fleet activated a protective shield, wrapping Akihiko, Aiko, her parents, Rin, Naoru, and Mika in a cocoon of shimmering energy. Slowly, Earth receded beneath them, fading into a distant blue-and-green orb.

Akihiko sat beside Aiko, holding her small, fragile hand in his. His voice was barely above a whisper, carried more by heart than sound:

“Hold on, please… I promise I won’t let you go again. Not now… not ever.”

A hush fell over the flagship. The hum of the engines was the only sound as the protective field pulsed gently around them. Akihiko’s gaze never left Aiko’s pale face. Every breath, every faint flutter of her eyelids felt like a promise he had to keep. Rin, though trained in the medical arts of the future, felt helpless in the presence of such raw vulnerability; she gripped her weapon tightly, torn between her duty and fear.

Naoru stood nearby, restless, his usually calm demeanor strained. Finally, he stepped closer, voice low:

“Akihiko… I remembered something.”

Pain flickered in Akihiko’s eyes, but he steadied himself. “Tell me.”

“When you were unconscious… poisoned by Kaelrith… your life was slipping away. But when I entered the chamber, you and Aiko were bathed in light. I thought it was a trick of my eyes, yet now I realize… it was her energy. Aiko—Princess Soraya—kept you alive.”

The words struck Akihiko like a thunderclap. He looked down at Aiko, motionless yet warm beneath his hand. The faint warmth of her touch reminded him of everything he had felt, everything he had fought for.

He whispered, almost to himself:

“Of course… energy transfer…”

Mika and Rin exchanged glances, both understanding for the first time the true depth of the bond between the prince and the girl—more than destiny, more than fate—it was a force capable of saving lives.

Akihiko’s thoughts wandered, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stretch:

Akihiko (internal monologue):

“She always was extraordinary… even as a girl on Earth, her presence could calm a storm in my chest. And now, knowing she is princess Soraya… I can’t let anything happen to her. This power, this connection… it’s more than energy. It’s trust, love… it’s life itself. And I swear, I will guard her, no matter the cost.”

Naoru laid a steadying hand on his shoulder. “Akihiko, try. Just as she did for you, transfer your energy to her.”

Akihiko blinked, then nodded, pressing Aiko’s warm hand against his chest. He inhaled deeply, calling forth the long-forgotten family power within him. The white-and-blue aura blossomed around him, gentle yet unwavering, a beacon of life flowing into Aiko.

Aiko’s fingers twitched, the faintest movement that made Akihiko’s heart leap. She breathed, slowly, steadily, and color returned to her cheeks.

Aiko (internal monologue, half-conscious):

“Akihiko… I can feel you… your strength… your warmth. It’s like coming home. I don’t want to fall again—not now. I…”

Tears glistened in Akihiko’s eyes. “Breathe… please, Aiko…” His voice cracked with relief and fear entwined, but he didn’t falter.

Outside, the stars of space spread like a vast tapestry. Ahead, Akarihoshi gleamed, majestic and serene. The surface, shimmering in shades of green, violet, and blue, was a gentle balm to the eyes. For a fleeting moment, a passage opened within Akarihoshi’s shield, granting the fleet safe passage inside. The fleet carried the heroes and the rescued back to the heart of the galaxy, victorious yet scarred by the trials they had endured.

On the main deck, the royal palace loomed. Soldiers and officers watched silently as the landing platform extended, guiding them toward the halls where destiny awaited.

Akihiko walked beside the hovering stretcher, never letting go of Aiko’s hand. Her chest rose steadily with each breath, the red-gold glow of her energy now soft and steady. The royal family awaited them: king Kaito and queen Hanae, dignified and commanding, yet radiating warmth and concern. Ren, Akihiko’s younger brother, stood nearby, tense and alert. At the forefront was Miraja, Akarihoshi’s top Med-Tech specialist, her eyes sharp and assessing.

Miraja knelt beside Aiko, examining her energy patterns. “Her life force is severely drained,” she said, her tone both calm and commanding. “But within her… there is more power than I could have imagined.”

Akihiko’s voice caught, raw with hope. “Will she be okay?”

Miraja’s gaze met his, compassionate yet firm. “Yes, she’ll be okay. But everything else depends entirely on her own strength and will.”

Akihiko’s fingers tightened around hers. He whispered, barely audible:

“I will wait… and I will stay by your side, Aiko. No matter what.”

King Kaito’s deep voice resonated through the hall. “It is as I suspected. Aiko… really is princess Soraya.”

Hiroshi and Emiko, Aiko’s parents, stood close together, stunned. Emiko with tears in her eyes.

“No… this can’t be real…”

King Kaito inclined his head with quiet respect. “Welcome to Akarihoshi. Don’t worry, your daughter is in good hands. She has accomplished what few could. And without her… you might not be standing here today.”

Hiroshi’s green eyes reflected awe and lingering doubt. “Our daughter… Aiko… we thought she was ordinary. But you say she’s a princess?”

Queen Hanae smiled gently. “She has not lost herself. Your love gave her strength, a heart capable of rising above darkness.”

Akihiko (internal monologue):

“She belongs to two worlds… And I… I will stand beside her, as she stands against the dark. No matter what awaits, we face it together. I won’t let her go, not this time.”

Tears streamed down Emiko’s face. “Aiko… our little girl…”

Hiroshi nodded. “No matter what, we are her parents. Always. She will never be alone.”

Kaito’s smile softened. “Because of your love, she can fulfill her destiny. The love of family transcends worlds, distances, even stars.”

At that moment, two realities met: the ordinary love of a family and the royal fate of a princess, united in the quiet presence of a sleeping girl whose courage had saved them all.

Emiko said, trembling, yet honest. “Seventeen years ago… we found her outside, abandoned, alone. We took her in. Loved her as our own. And though we knew she was from elsewhere… we never wanted her to feel less than ours. But we never imagined, that she is from another planet.”

Akihiko turned sharply, eyes wide. The revelation hung in the air, yet the calm dignity of the royal family reassured him.

Hiroshi added, voice steady. “She looked to the sky even as a child. Perhaps she always knew her destiny lay beyond Earth. But we gave her a home, warmth, and love. She is our daughter.”

Queen Hanae smiled, tears in her eyes. “You did what matters most. And now, because of your love… Aiko is strong enough to save herself, and to save others.”

Akihiko stepped forward, gaze steady. “Blood doesn’t define family. Love does. And to her… you are everything. Nothing can take that away from you.”

Emiko wept softly, Hiroshi bowed his head. A secret kept for years was finally spoken aloud, and a shared relief settled over them all—a quiet victory alongside the battles fought in the stars.