THE BEASTLY BETRAYAL

"I will vanish you all back to Star Awesome, safe and sound... But why were the demons attacking you guys?" Podestray squinted his eyes, though his voice was soft, but it was still intimidating.

They all exchanged glances; Jacksaw pushed Yuzuru ahead. "U-um, almighty prince of demons...you must know better than us."

The wind ruffled past them. Podestray remained silent after Yuzuru had answered him. They all nudged each other. "Did I offend him..." Yuzuzru whispered.

Podestray moved away from them, looking up at the sky.

"So he isn't sending us back?" Ayu whispered.

"I don't know...." Yuzuru sat down.

With a pulse beat, the sand slightly sank and the air thickened. In a blink, Slime and Patricka appeared.

"Did they win?" Ren grabbed Yuzuru's arm.

"Their condition says otherwise..." Yuzuru observed them.

"Podestray...the Star Area...they attacked..." Patricka nervously clenched Podestray.

Podestray looked at them both and looked around. "Where are the other two?"

Slime shook his head. Podestray's eye twitched; he bent down to Patricka and brushed his hand on her snakes. "Did they kill them?"

Tears welled up in her eyes; she nodded and wiped off her tears. "Don't worry, I will figure out what to do." 

Ren sat down next to Yuzuru. "Why is he making that face?"

"What face?"

"Like he is really sad."

Podestray lifted the bleeding snake over her forehead. His eyes widened as he bent closer, examining her forehead. Slime walked over to them as soon as he noticed the distress on his face.

"What happened..."

"They will be here soon..." Podestray sighed.

 His cloak rustled as he looked up at the sky again, pulling the cloak over his face. He turned to Slime. "Go get Torpedo."

"Come, let's go together...but..." He looked at Patricka, who touched her forehead with a smile. "Fine, both of you stay here..." 

*DUG*

The sand shifted, forming a star sigil; light shone from within. Two silhouettes became visible, revealing Amanda and Carlos.

"We are safe...!" Yuzuru exclaimed.

Ren looked at Podestray. "He must be scared at least..."

Slime took a step back and disappeared while Podestray approached them. His eyes glistened, and a gentle smile took over his face. "Amanda..."

Ren tried to make out Podestray's expression. "Is he happy?"

"Princess Amanda to you." Amanda raised her sword, pointing his way.

He looked at the sword, then at her. "Princess, you have grown to be beautiful..." 
He tilted his head, directing his eyes at Carlos. "Same goes for you, you both—"

"Shut it." Carlos glared.

Podestray's eye twitched, and he raised his hands. He looked at the ground and back at them; his facial expressions became distant. Patricka took a step behind him.

"Did he surrender?" Vivian looked at Amanda.

"Fight me, Podestray!" Amanda yelled and tightened her sword.

"No."

Amanda huffed, taking deep breaths in frustration. "What, then I will just kill you?" 

Podestray smiled. "I know you won't; you like fighting, not killing."

Amanda clenched her sword, glaring at him. Carlos patted her shoulder. "Relax."

Podestray smiled and took off his cloak, putting it aside. "See, I know you well, Amanda, and you too, Carlos... And you both know me too—"

His eyes widened, and then he squinted. Blue light lit half of the ground. He trembled and looked at Amanda and Carlos. Their face illuminated in the tranquil light. 

He looked up at the sky as the curtain over the moon unveiled. Filling the whole sky with the surreal blue, the same colour as his eyes. Everyone looked around as the dark night turned beautiful blue with the moon fully uncovered.

He looked around for his cloak, but Carlos held it. A portal opened, and Hiroto walked over to Amanda and handed her some necklaces. She distributed them to her Star. 

"Wear them." 

Podestray stared at Amanda as tears welled up in his eyes. His body began shining in the moonlight. "I-I did feel someone up there...b-but I thought you wouldn't do such a thing."

"I am going to get Torpedo!" Patricka took a few slow steps back; she kept looking at him. She gulped and vanished.

"Is the moon his weakness?" Ren looked at the necklace and at the trembling demon.

"No, his trauma." Amanda kept her eyes fixed on Podestray.

His hair flared, floating around as the hair strands clumped together. With trembling hands he touched his head, which turned to gelatine.

"His hair is just like Nami's." Yuzuru exclaimed.

"Yes, he is a halfa, half demon and half nomed." Carlos's hand shone, and crystal dust assembled into a sword.

Podestray gasped and wiped his tears. "You both...I-I misunderstood you...you took advantage..." He looked at his trembling hands. "You took advantage of our friendship."

"Oh please, you manipulated the Jambudh king to rebel against us and used your demons to take over this place." Amanda shouted.

"A-Amanda..." Ren looked at her as she positioned herself to attack. He looked at the trembling demon. H-he doesn't sound like the other demons.

"Podestray, you started this war. And war means exploiting any possible weaknesses." Carlos sighed.

Podestray shook his head; he took heavy breaths as anger took over him. 
"I thought once we meet we will talk this out...."

 Ren pulled on his shirt. "Amanda, wouldn't it be better if matters were talked out?" 

He glared at them sarcastically. "You knew everything, but you...you both are surely righteous..." He wobbled, his hands elongated into claws. A red hue took over his eyes. 

"Torpedo was right; you people are hopeless, siding with demons, liars, and power-greedy exploiters." He grabbed his hair; his body began turning into darkness.

"Shut up." Carlos yelled; his body glowed red. His hands trembled while he kept rubbing them on his eyes.

 "Amanda, listen to what he is saying." Ren almost shouted, but she began walking ahead.

"YOU PEOPLE ARE PATHETIC; YOU CAN FORGET ANYTHING WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT." The darkness grew larger, taking on a beastly demeanour. "I AM A DEMON, BUT YOU PEOPLE ARE BEASTS."

"He gave in to his demonic side." Amanda lowered her head. "Now, after the royal is slain, demons will finally leave this place."

"AMANDA! AT LEAST LISTEN TO HIM...." Ren grabbed her arm, pulling her back. 

"B-but he is working with dark forces; he destroyed the Kemetian tribe—" Amanda looked at him confused and at Podestray.

"Amanda, is he even a demon?...He sounds like a human."

"H-he is a demon, I know that; look at him." She pointed at him. "I have seen how demonic he truly is."

"But can't you see how he is reacting?" Ren grabbed her. Her eyes were full of tears. 

"Yeah, princie, maybe this is all a big misunderstanding?" Yuzuru walked to her and bent closer, whispering. "Plus, even that crystal prince is crying; bet he too doesn't want to fight the demon."

A white beast stood in place of Podestray. It groaned and howled. Echoes of laughter filled the air, proof of complete demonic transformation. Carlos and Hiroto prepared to attack him. 

"YOU FORGETFUL BEASTS, YOU FORGOT WHAT MY FATHER DID FOR YOU PEOPLE... HOW MUCH HE HELPED..."

Between them and Podestray, a sigil with a crescent appeared mid-air. Slime and Patricka walked out following a dark-skinned man. All of them wore necklaces similar to the ones Hiroto gave out.

He wore a short open waistcoat. He had black tattoos all over his body and many gold jewels. And a strap ran over his chest, holding arrows at the back.

"Torpedo..." Carlos mumbled.

Torpedo glanced at the enormous beast and at Amanda. 

"I wonder why you hate him when he loves you so much."