The atmosphere inside the spaceship had changed. Safari and Angeleva weren't completely healed from their emotional wounds, but they were no longer drowning in them. The family could feel itâthe weight had lifted, even if just a little.
As they gathered in the control room, Olive focused on piloting the ship, steering it toward their next destination.
"So," Ian leaned against the wall, grinning. "What's the plan? We're obviously heading toward another fight, right?"
Safari folded his arms. "Gregory and Patricia warned us about tougher generals ahead. That means Raven is preparing for us. We need to be ready."
Angeleva nodded. "And after what happened last time, we can't afford to be caught off guard again."
Zack, sitting with his notebook, tapped his pen thoughtfully. "Then we need a new strategy. The last battle worked because we used our unity and teamwork. But what if we took that a step further?"
Jen brightened. "You mean like training together?"
"Exactly." Zack smiled. "If we understand each other's abilities better, we can fight more efficiently as a team."
Safari smirked. "Not a bad idea, kid."
Angeleva crossed her arms. "It'll be a good way to see where we stand too. We can't afford any weaknesses."
Olive sighed. "Great. More training. As if piloting this spaceship through meteor storms wasn't enough work."
Ian threw an arm around Olive. "Don't worry, I'll be there to cheer you on! And take lots of pictures, of course."
She shoved him off, scowling. "Ugh, get away from me, pervert."
The family chuckled, and for the first time in days, there was warmth in the laughter.
"Alright then," Safari cracked his knuckles. "Training starts tomorrow. No excuses."
Angeleva smirked. "Try to keep up, demon man."
Safari rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the slight grin on his face.
As the spaceship soared through the vastness of space, heading toward their next challenge, the family felt stronger than before.
They had suffered, they had struggledâbut together, they would keep moving forward.
_ _ _
The next day, training began.
Safari and Angeleva stood on the spaceship's training deck, facing each other. The rest of the family watched from the sidelines, eager to see how this would play out.
"No holding back," Angeleva warned, gripping her Celestic Fairy Wand. "We're testing our limits."
Safari cracked his neck and twirled his Celestic Devil Hammer. "Good. I wouldn't want it any other way."
The battle began.
Safari charged first, swinging his hammer down with brute force. Angeleva dodged with a graceful leap, her wings shimmering as she countered with a blast of fairy energy. Safari blocked with his hammer, but the impact pushed him back.
"Still too slow, devil," Angeleva taunted.
Safari smirked. "And you still talk too much." He spun his hammer, creating a shockwave that sent Angeleva skidding across the floor.
The family watched intently.
"They're insane," Ian whispered, snapping pictures.
"But this is the first time they're actually fighting together," Zack noted.
Olive nodded. "They're learning each other's movements, their strengths and weaknesses. This might actually work."
Angeleva unleashed a barrage of energy blasts using fairy barrage, forcing Safari to dodge. She was fast, but Safari was adapting. He read her movements, predicting her next attack.
Then he struck.
With a sudden burst of speed, Safari closed the distance and swung his hammer. Angeleva barely had time to block, the impact sending her crashing into the wall.
"Gotcha." Safari smirked.
Angeleva groaned, pushing herself up. But instead of frustration, she smiled. "Not bad. Maybe you're not as hopeless as I thought."
Safari laughed. "You're not so bad yourself, fairy."
The family exchanged glances.
"Did... did they just compliment each other?" Jen asked, stunned.
Ian grinned. "Miracles do happen!"
Safari and Angeleva turned to the group. "Alright," Safari said. "Training's over. Let's move out."
Angeleva nodded. "We're ready."
Late that night, Safari stood by the ship's observation window, staring into the endless void of space. He didn't expect Angeleva to join him, but he wasn't surprised either. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes distant.
"It's funny, isn't it?" Safari muttered. "We were tricked into fighting each other by Rebel. We slaughtered what was left of each other's people, thinking we were doing the right thing."
Angeleva's expression darkened as she stared at her hands. "I remember that battle like it was yesterday."
Her fingers trembled slightly. "I wiped out the last survivors of Sappy. And you... you destroyed the remaining fairies who followed Angelica."
Safari clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his own sins. "And now? We're here, side by side, calling ourselves a 'family.'"
They both chuckled bitterly.
"If someone had told me back then," Angeleva mused, "that the person I hated the most would become my only ally, I would've laughed in their face."
Safari leaned back against the wall. "I always tried to hate you. That devil-fairy ego made it easy. But at some point, something changed."
Angeleva turned toward him, eyes softening. "Yeah... I hated you too. But... now, I don't feel that way anymore."
They fell into silence, the memories of their shared past crashing over them like a storm. But for the first time, the weight didn't feel unbearable.
"I guess Patricia and Gregory made us realize something," Safari muttered. "They both betrayed everything they once stood for, but they still joined forces."
Angeleva sighed. "If theyâtwo selfish, backstabbing monstersâcan work together, then maybe... maybe we can, too."
Safari looked up at her, a small, rare smile forming. "That's why we put our devil-fairy egos aside. For the first time, we have a common enemy. And... for the first time, we're not alone."
Angeleva blinked, taken aback.
"You know," Safari continued, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "this family of weirdos needs more than just a protective big brother. They need someone who can actually cheer them up. Someone friendly, caring... like a big sister."
Angeleva raised an eyebrow. "Are you sayingâ?"
Safari exhaled. "I'm saying... you should stay. As their big sis."
She stared at him, wide-eyed.
Safari looked away, feeling strangely embarrassed. "I always observed how you were with them before... how natural it was for you to laugh with them, to make them feel safe. That's something I can't do like you can. I've always wanted to bring you into the family, but I could never say it out loud."
Angeleva was silent for a long moment. Then, she smirked. "And here I thought you were just a stubborn, battle-obsessed idiot."
Safari rolled his eyes. "Don't get used to me saying nice things."
Angeleva chuckled, then softened. "You're wrong about one thing, though."
Safari raised an eyebrow.
"You do have a quality I don't," she admitted. "You're strongânot just in battle, but in keeping this family together, even when you don't realize it."
Safari scoffed. "Tch. Took you long enough to admit it."
Angeleva smirked, then gave him a gentle punch on the shoulder. "Fine. I'll take responsibility for these weirdos, too. But that means you have to trust me, even when we don't see eye to eye."
Safari let out a deep breath. "Deal."
Then, after a pause, he added, "No matter what happens between us, you'll always be a part of this family. You're the only one I can entrust them toâeven if we are a devil and a fairy. Plus, admit it you were the one who entrusted them to me. Its also time you take responsibility as a responsible fairy."
Angeleva felt something warm settle in her chest.
"Heh," she murmured, looking at him with something close to fondness. "Finally, you say something worth listening to."
Safari smirked. "Don't get used to it."
Safari then leaned back against the cold metal wall of the spaceship, arms crossed, staring at the ceiling.
"You want to know about Gregory?" he asked, his voice unusually calm.
Angeleva nodded. "Yeah. And I'll tell you about Patricia too. Might as well let it all out."
Safari exhaled sharply before beginning. "Gregory... he was a monster long before he left Sappy. When I was a kid, I admired him. He was everything a devil was supposed to be â strong, ruthless, and powerful." He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "But he wasn't just strong. He enjoyed making others feel weak."
Angeleva listened quietly as Safari continued. "He was my mentor, or so I thought. He used to train me, but his way of 'teaching' was brutal. He pushed me beyond my limits, not to make me stronger, but to break me. Every time I failed, he beat me. Every time I succeeded, he told me it wasn't enough." Safari's jaw tightened. "He wanted me to either become like him or crumble."
Angeleva frowned, her wings twitching. "And your sister?"
Safari's expression darkened. "Gregory despised her. He said she was weak. That she didn't deserve to be a devil." His voice wavered, though he fought to keep it steady. "I remember him saying that if she disappeared, no one would miss her."
Angeleva's eyes flashed with a mix of sadness and anger. "So... he really was behind her death."
Safari nodded, his voice low. "He manipulated some of our people into believing that my sister's kindness was a weakness that would doom Sappy. He didn't kill her himself â he made others do it which I now know. And he probably watched in amusement." His fists trembled. "Then he told me to toughen up, that mourning her was pathetic. I had no idea that he was behind my sister's death."
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only when Angeleva placed a hand on Safari's shoulder, squeezing gently.
"I'm sorry, Safari."
Safari shook his head. "I used to tell myself that if I got strong enough, I'd surpass him one day. But now... I realize strength isn't about being like him. It's about protecting what matters. This family." He finally looked at Angeleva. "And that includes you."
Angeleva gave a small, appreciative smile before sighing. "Patricia... she was my role model when I was little. I looked up to her so much. She was beautiful, elegant, strong... and she acted like she cared about me."
Safari raised an eyebrow. "She 'acted' like she cared?"
Angeleva's expression darkened. "Yeah. I didn't see it back then, but it was all fake. She played the part of a loving big sister, but only because she wanted people to trust her. To adore her."
Safari listened intently as Angeleva continued. "She was next in line for the throne after my father, and everyone assumed she'd be a great queen. But I remember small things... like how the servants always looked afraid around her. How she'd smile sweetly in public but glare daggers when no one was watching."
Angeleva clenched her fists. "Then one day, my father got sick. It was slow at first, but he kept getting weaker. No one knew why. That's when we found out â Patricia was poisoning him."
Safari's eyes widened. "She tried to kill your father?!"
Angeleva nodded, her voice laced with anger. "She didn't just 'try' â she almost succeeded. My mother found out and exposed her. Patricia was imprisoned, and the whole kingdom turned against her." She swallowed hard. "I thought that was the end of it. But then, a few weeks later, my mother died."
Safari's expression hardened. "You thought it was an accident?"
Angeleva nodded slowly. "Everyone did. They said it was a sudden illness or maybe an assassination from another kingdom. I was just a kid â I believed whatever they told me." She exhaled sharply. "But now... knowing Patricia was freed when Angelica was destroyed, hearing her admit she killed my mother... I feel like a fool for not seeing it back then."
Safari frowned. "So she killed your mother and pretended to be your caring sister the whole time?"
Angeleva scoffed bitterly. "Yeah. And the worst part? I actually mourned for her when she was imprisoned. I cried for her." Her voice wavered, and she closed her eyes. "I trusted her. And she killed the person I loved the most."
Another long silence hung between them. But this time, there was no bitterness â only a shared understanding.
Safari finally spoke. "Gregory and Patricia... they're the same. They twisted everything they touched. And now, they've joined forces."
Angeleva nodded. "But you know what? That makes things clear." She met his gaze, determination shining in her eyes. "If they're our enemies... then we fight them together."
Safari smirked, a hint of pride flashing across his face. "Damn right."
He paused, his voice softening. "I know we'll probably never forget what they did. But... we don't have to be like them."
Angeleva tilted her head. "And what are we then?"
Safari's smirk widened. "We're the family they tried to destroy. And nothing is going to tear us apart."
Angeleva gave a determined nod. "Then let's make sure they regret ever underestimating us."
For the first time, their painful pasts weren't just wounds â they were fuel. Fuel for the battle ahead.