After two days of drifting through the galaxy, Angeleva's tracker lit up with a bright red signal. The tiny blinking dot indicated a nearby planet - and not just any planet.
Angeleva: (smirking)
"A demon general, huh? Guess I'm getting there first, devil guy."
She adjusted her course, her wings shimmering as she soared through the emptiness of space. The planet below loomed larger with every passing moment. With a determined glint in her eyes, she prepared for the challenge ahead.
Meanwhile, On Safari's Spaceship...
The atmosphere inside the spaceship was unusually calm. Safari sat in the captain's chair, lazily spinning in circles while Zack and Jen monitored the systems.
Jen: (checking the tracker)
"Nothing so far. Just the usual empty space and-"
Suddenly, the tracker beeped loudly. A large red signal blinked on the tracker, sending a pulse through the system.
Zack: (alarmed)
"That's a demon general's signal!"
Safari's eyes widened. Without hesitation, he shot up from his seat.
Safari: (grinning wildly)
"Finally! Let's see which poor general gets his face smashed in today!"
Jen quickly stabilized the ship's course, but Safari impatiently shoved the controls forward.
Jen: (warning)
"Big bro, wait! We need to approach safely-"
Safari: (ignoring her)
"No time for that! If there's a demon general, I'm taking him down now!"
Zack sighed, already sensing the disaster that was about to unfold. Safari slammed on the thrusters, and the ship accelerated at full speed.
Safari: (laughing)
"Try and stop me, demon scum!"
But the planet's gravitational pull was stronger than he anticipated. Within moments, the ship spiraled uncontrollably. Alarms blared, and lights flashed red.
Jen: (yelling)
"You idiot! We're crashing!"
Safari: (panicking)
"I got this! I got this!"
He did not have it.
The spaceship smashed through the sky like a comet, its tail of flames streaking behind it.
Finally, it crashed straight into the outskirts of a city in the planet. Dust and debris clouded the air as the impact shook the ground.
When the smoke cleared, the wreckage of Safari's ship was embedded in what had once been a cheerful, brightly painted building. Broken walls and shattered toys lay scattered around the crash site.
A group of wide-eyed children stood a few feet away, some clutching their stuffed animals, others holding onto each other in fear. At the center of it all stood an imposing woman, her hands on her hips, glaring daggers at Safari.
She was tall with a stern face, dressed in a simple brown dress with a dusty apron. Strands of purple hair escaped from her bun, and her eyes burned with a righteous fury.
Caretaker: (seething)
"You... destroyed my orphanage!"
Safari stumbled out of the wreckage, coughing and brushing soot from his jacket.
Safari: (scowling)
"Hey, it's not my fault! The planet pulled me down!"
Caretaker: (furious)
"Not your fault? You reckless fool! Look what you've done to these children's home!"
She gestured to the frightened kids, their eyes welling with tears. Safari awkwardly scratched his head, struggling to avoid eye contact.
Safari: (grumbling)
"Tch. What do you want me to do? Build it back with my bare hands?"
Caretaker: (stepping closer)
"Oh, I'd love to see you try, big guy."
Safari's temper flared. He pointed a finger at her, his voice rising.
Safari: (snapping)
"You think I'm afraid of some cranky old lady? I could-"
Before he could finish, Zack and Jen yanked him back.
Zack: (firmly)
"Enough, big bro."
Jen: (calmly)
"You're not helping."
Safari growled under his breath, but Zack's stern gaze forced him to remain silent.
Jen: (to the Caretaker)
"We're sorry. It wasn't intentional. We'll do whatever it takes to fix this."
Just then, a group of kind-looking repairmen arrived, drawn by the commotion. Seeing the wrecked building and the spaceship, they immediately offered their services.
Repairman: (cheerfully)
"Don't worry, miss! We'll fix the orphanage and the ship. No charge. Accidents happen, and we can't have the little ones without a home."
The Caretaker nodded, though her stern gaze remained locked on Safari.
Caretaker: (gruffly)
"Fine. But as for you..."
She jabbed a finger at Safari, making him flinch.
Caretaker: (smirking)
"You're gonna take care of these children until their home is repaired. That's your punishment."
Safari's jaw dropped.
Safari: (horrified)
"Wait, what? No way!"
Caretaker: (grinning slyly)
"Oh, yes. And believe me, these kids will be a handful."
The children giggled mischievously, already planning their antics.
Zack: (smirking)
"Good luck, 'big brother.'"
Jen: (laughing)
"Think of it as character building."
Safari groaned in defeat as the children gleefully swarmed him, tugging at him and chattering nonstop.
Safari: (under his breath)
"This is worse than fighting a demon general."
But as much as he grumbled, a tiny part of him knew he had this coming.
The repairmen set to work, the Caretaker keeping a close eye on Safari.
Meanwhile, the children giggled and played, already enjoying the chaos their new babysitter brought.
_ _ _
On the other side of the planet, Angeleva's wings fluttered softly as she landed gracefully on the serene planet.
Unlike the ominous atmosphere she'd expected from a demon general's territory, the world was surprisingly beautiful.
Towering crystal-like trees lined the streets, their leaves shimmering in hues of blue and violet. The sky was a soft pink, with sun gently glowing above.
Curious, she strolled through the cobblestone paths of a nearby city. People greeted her warmly - people of that planet, Androids, and even peculiar plant-like creatures.
They lived in harmony, tending to their gardens and playing music in the streets. It was a stark contrast to what she had anticipated.
Angeleva: (thinking)
"This can't be right... A demon general ruling over a planet like this?"
She approached a fruit vendor, an elderly woman with a warm smile.
Vendor: (cheerfully)
"Welcome, dear fairy! You're new around here, aren't you?"
Angeleva: (smiling politely)
"Just visiting. This place seems... too peaceful. What's the name of this planet?"
Vendor: (proudly)
"This is Saffira! A paradise of harmony and joy. We've had no trouble for years."
Angeleva's brows furrowed.
Angeleva: (thinking)
"Then why was there a red signal? Something's definitely off here."
Meanwhile...
On the other side of the planet, things were far from peaceful. Safari, the powerful devil and ruler of Sappy, was currently the unwilling babysitter to a horde of hyperactive children.
The orphanage's lawn had become his battlefield. Kids climbed all over him, pulling at his horns and laughing as they clung to his arms. One particularly adventurous boy had managed to perch on Safari's shoulders, pretending to steer him like a mighty beast.
Child: (laughing)
"Giddy-up, Devil King!"
Safari growled in frustration, but even he knew that showing any real aggression would terrify the kids. And after the damage he caused, terrifying them was the last thing he wanted.
Safari: (grumbling)
"I am the ruler of Planet Sappy, not some plaything!"
Another child, a little girl with pigtails, stuffed a pacifier in his mouth before giggling uncontrollably.
Child: (teasing)
"Look! The devil baby needs his pacifier!"
Zack and Jen watched from a safe distance, both barely containing their laughter.
Zack: (snickering)
"Oh man, this is gold. Watching you deal with a dozen mini-me is like karma hitting you in the face."
Safari: (muffled from the pacifier)
"Shuff ubb, Zack!"
Jen giggled, though she felt a twinge of sympathy.
Jen: (softly)
"Maybe we should help him?"
Before she could step in, the Caretaker interrupted.
Caretaker: (firmly)
"No need. He caused this mess, and he'll clean it up. That's how grown-ups learn responsibility."
Still curious, she glanced at the trio.
Caretaker: (questioning)
"But you two - are you his siblings?"
Zack quickly nodded.
Zack: (grinning)
"Not really. I'm 12, and Jen's 16. We're like family to him."
The Caretaker raised a brow and then turned her eyes to Safari, who was now struggling to pry a toddler off his arm.
Caretaker: (mocking)
"And you, Horned guy, how old are you?"
Safari, mid-battle with the giggling children, barely managed to spit out his response.
Safari: (exhausted)
"24!"
Caretaker: (crossing her arms)
"A full-grown man. And yet, you're acting like a reckless child. That's why you're stuck with these little ones until the orphanage is repaired."
Zack and Jen snickered as Safari groaned.
Caretaker: (sighing)
"Now, you two should explore the town. You're just kids. My assistant will show you around."
Jen: (protesting)
"But-"
Caretaker: (waving her off)
"No buts. Let the grown-up deal with his responsibilities."
An assistant, a tall elf woman with short green hair, approached with a kind smile.
Assistant: (cheerfully)
"Come along! I'll show you the best places on Saffira."
As they left, Safari slumped to the ground, a defeated look on his face as another child climbed onto his back.
Safari: (groaning)
"Why me?"
Zack and Jen walked through the bustling streets of Saffira, marveling at the vibrant culture. Street performers juggled glowing orbs, musicians played harmonicas made from crystal branches, and families picnicked under the sun.
Jen: (in awe)
"This planet is amazing... It's hard to believe a demon general is supposed to be ruling this place."
Zack: (nodding)
"Yeah. Maybe Angeleva's already found him. We may be able to meet her."
They explored various stalls, sampling local treats and enjoying the carefree atmosphere. Zack even bought a small glass orb that emitted a gentle humming sound when shaken.
But deep down, both of them couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.
Back at the orphanage, Safari had finally managed to wrangle the children into a game of hide-and-seek. As he counted loudly, the kids giggled and scattered, enjoying every moment.
Though he wouldn't admit it, Safari's frustration was slowly giving way to something else - a strange sense of warmth.
Safari: (thinking)
"Maybe... this isn't all bad."
But just as the thought crossed his mind, a pie flew out of nowhere, splattering directly onto his face. The children burst into laughter as Safari wiped the cream from his eyes, muttering under his breath.
Safari: (grinning despite himself)
"These little devils... One day, I'll get my revenge."