Heeeeeeeeey... Er, so if any of you actually read my profile, then you would know why this is late. My laptop had an internet connection block when I was updating my security protection, and I was super lazy and confused on how to fix it. But eventually, I found a fix, and now I'm back! Problem is: I have school in less than two weeks (I think), it's my senior year, and my grandmother is temporarily living at my house (just before she was talking to me for a good thirty minutes), so I gotta be polite and steer away from my computer in order to listen to her... That's all I really got to say, so excuse me for mistakes and comment if you have any questions or concerns.

Reminder: No stealing, copying, translating, or plagiarizing my fic! You're doomed if I find you doing so.

Repost: 8/13/14

The Red Army

Ruuuuumbbble.

“Ugh, that blast sounded bigger than the last one,” Chen whined under his breath. Where there were in the royal underground bunker, he and his brothers and the queens were huddled up together in a tight, compact ball, some squished together on the couch and the others curled up on the rug before it. The little ones—Sehun and Tao—were constantly whimpering every time they heard a loud, thundering sound that reverberating throughout the castle’s foundations. Kai and Kyungsoo managed to look brave, but their fear was reflected through their wan faces and muted voices.

Contrary to them, Yifan, Xiumin, and Chanyeol were burning with fury.

“Can’t we go help Father?” Chanyeol demanded with a fiery temper, which was rarely invoked unless it was something that truly irked him. His once cheerful and playful behavior was replaced with the passion to fight and defend his homeland. He wanted to kill those Techas without mercy.

“You know the second a Techa sees you, they’ll kill you,” Queen Kyungsoon warned her fuming son in a strict tone, but a flicker of fear flashed across her eyes.

Yifan grinded his teeth together in frustration. “I hate not being able to protect our own home!” he shouted hotly, nearly jumping to his feet in anger, but Suho had placed a placating hand on his older brother’s rigid arm, restraining him.

“We have powers, though!” Xiumin argued, facing his mother. “Other Exotics depend on us!”

“Our entire planet depends on all of you!” Queen Ming snapped back, but then her tone softened at the boys’ dumbfounded expressions. “One day, you will fight, but that day is not now. The most important thing is: as long as you live, then so will EXO.”

“And yet you let Aris fight but not us?” Yixing asked quietly, but his soft, truthful words were biting. He didn’t even glance at his brothers nor at his mother when he had said that, his forlorn gaze pinned blankly at the stone wall. Based on his shrunken posture and downcast expression, he seemed to be in depression.

The queens grimaced guiltily at that. It was true that practically everyone was allowing you to fight for the princes’ sakes, but...that was because you were exceptionally capable and outstandingly clever than anyone else in the universe. You had integrity, intuition, power, determination, and a huge heart to top it all.

A heart that cherished the twelves princes close with love and care.

Booooom!

Baekhyun’s long, thin fingers were tethered in his hair. With every rumbling vibration, he lost more and more of his patience and sanity towards the invaders that devastated his beautiful homeland. He shut his eyes tightly, wishing, hoping, praying for you.

“Aris...hurry.”

...

The Techas had sent out their foot soldiers from their ships by the hordes. Their soldiers were accumulatively known as the Red Force Army. Like all Techas, the Red Force were half-biotic, half-mechanic. A soldier was averaged to be about seven feet tall if not any higher. And, of course, there were different mechanical designs to their disposal.

The Red Eyes were designed like their namesake. They were large, bulbous eyes with cable tentacles tipped with clawed pinchers. Without the aid of legs, they flew instead by using the jet packs installed in them. They were distinctively used as scouters, being the ‘eyes’ of the battles. Although they usually sent messages, took pictures, and surveyed terrains, they could capture enemies by using their strong, flexible tentacles or amass together by the hundreds to become a scary cloud of attackers.

Next were the Red Reptiles, which were reptilian-type beasts. They could run swiftly and quickly on their powerful hind legs with the grace of a gazelle. They most commonly attacked with their long claws that sparked electricity or would beat someone to death with their whip-like tails equipped with a spiked ball at the tip. Behind their plated masks, they would breathe heavily and hiss out intelligent things—an indicator that told the enemy to run when heard.

The most feared of the Red Force were the Red Assassins. Their name said it all. These humanoid aliens, with their tall, slender, wispy bodies that misled how compact and sturdy they were built, had a head with only a thinly-lined mouth and a small computer screen where the eyes should’ve been. They had three pointy, pincher-like fingers equipped to each hand and were widely known to be excessively stealthy and quiet on their feet. Geared under their armor and installed within their appendages were hidden weapons such as tasers, knives, darts, swords, whips, and saws, which could be taken out in a blink of an eye.

It was just as how Prophet Yesung had foreseen long ago: the Red Force had been specifically dropped off near the towns and cities close to the royal castle and the Capitol. There, they released their rage, destroying buildings and hungrily tracking down their targets. Thanks to the evacuation procedures, many innocent Exotics were hidden away in underground shelters and bunkers while the Exotic Army counterattacked. The only way to effectively fight against the Red Force was by using high-powered electricity, fire, and energy-based weapons.

The Techa Army may have been greatly numbered, but they were average when it came to performance. For some reason, the Techas only sent out their small fry, who were meaningless robots armed with swords and guns and claws. However, their armor, brains, and physical attributes had been improved. They were stronger, faster, and smarter than before.

It was as if...they were testing EXO.

“I need to be at the head of the army,” King Heechul declared after hearing the myriad of reports coming in from the battlefields. There were so many fires and carnage and destruction. A multitude of deaths occurred on both sides of the war, but to the Techas, deaths were necessary and their soldiers were expandable. The king had been recently informed that the Red Force was converging closer to the castle and the Capitol. Not only that, more Techa ships were slipping past General Sungmin’s defenses and descending to ground level. They were going to be overwhelmed soon. “I will intercept the Red Force when they step into the royal city.”

“Those Red Assassins are probably searching for the princes,” spoke up an advisor. “We have to draw them away until Princess Aris returns.”

“We haven’t heard from General Sungmin since the first wave of Techa ships entered our atmosphere,” someone else gravely informed. “Because of that, we don’t know if the princess of SHINee is well enough to be able to come back at all.”

Reminded of that possible setback, King Heechul clenched his jaw in vexation. “SHINee...it’s impossible for them to travel over to help us while the Electric Net is activated. Also, if they get near a Techa ship, then their technology will be shut down just like ours.”

“The upcoming wave of Techa ships are landing in places where the Electric Net was opened up to,” a tactician remarked. “Therefore, they’ll be located far away from populated areas, but with their upgraded technology, they can travel between distances faster now.”

“Then I’ll intercept them halfway,” was the king’s firm response. “I must prepare for war. I must join my brothers in the fight.”

“Yes, your highness!” his people chorused.

Then he swept into the bustling armory room where he got suited up for battle.

...

“You did it, Aris!” Onew gasped in amazement, staring at you with newfound wonder that should’ve been directed to a newly discovered species.

There you were, on your knees, horribly panting from the immense amount of stress and change that you had to undergo. Your hands were braced on the flat, sleek floor to support your slumped upper body. Your glossy midnight hair now brushed past your slender shoulders.

It was incredibly weird, being in a body that you weren’t used to. It was a new change, a new growth.

The spell definitely worked. How did you know? Well, looking down at your smooth crystal reflection, there was no doubt.

Taemin’s and Jonghyun’s jaws were slack. Minho’s large eyes were wider in disbelief. Key was on the verge of tears.

“Onew...” you managed to huff out between pants. “How...what is...my...HOW OLD AM I?”

The eldest prince gulped at your fierce, urgent tone, your voice distinctively matured and lower than before. He frantically skimmed at the spell’s page in his grandmother’s sacred spellbook. He mumbled out the calculations and estimations to himself.

“Well, according to the hand signs, the energy consumption, the starting age, and the—”

“JINKI!” Key snapped.

“You’re around fifteen-years-old!” Onew finally blurted out.

Fifteen-years-old? You were ten years older?

Feeling at least competent enough, you rose to your feet. Then you blinked in confusion as you stared at Minho—who was the tallest brother—because you were now a good six inches taller than him.

Your voice had matured, your hair had grown out, your limbs were longer and slender, and curves had delicately reformed your body. Even your clothes had been resized to fit you...

The aging spell was a success. But because it wore out your body from the rapid growth process, you were lightheaded again and slightly incompetent of your own newly developed muscles and extra height.

You stumbled forward and would’ve slammed your woozy face onto the cool floor if Minho and Jonghyun hadn’t sprung forward to catch you.

Jonghyun gulped, seeing how big you were in his arms. “Baby Sister,” he said, stupefied, “you’re not a baby anymore.”

Key flailed out his arms wildly. “ACK! MY LITTLE SISTER IS A WOMAN!” He tackled you into a fierce hug and sobbed into your shoulder, “Y-you’re so b-beautiful!”

“You look like Mother,” Onew complimented softly, his crescent eyes watery. He even sniffled. “Gosh, just like her.”

“Pr...pretty,” Taemin whispered, dazed.

They all embraced you, even stunned little Taemin. But when a resounding boom could be heard outside, you all broke apart reluctantly and got back into business. Onew, Minho, and Key, being the only ones with a remaining bit of energy, transferred it over into you helpfully. You went over to your bags and slung them over your shoulder, their combined weight hardly a hassle to carry since your body was now fit to withstand heavier things. The spellbook was reverted back into its pocket-sized version and tucked away into your pocket for safekeeping. You handed a scroll over to Onew. Inside, it was inscribed with your neat, elegant writing, with words that you carefully put your heart into. You faltered a bit. “Jinki...give this to Father. Tell him that I’ll miss him...and that I don’t regret anything.”

Onew nodded earnestly, serious when it came to your last request.

Turning around, you gave one last look at the crystal formation that dominated the very back of the well-hidden room. The shadowy figure inside the formation was still there, blurry and unmoving. Hopefully, it would continue to stay undisturbed for a long time. Sighing softly, you faced your beloved brothers with a farewell in your eyes.

Without a single word, the six of you huddled into a big sibling hug again, holding each other tight and secure as if to ward away all the bag thoughts in life with a comforting touch. Only about two weeks ago, you and your brothers were on your home planet, in the royal study room, hugging each other just like this, promising to be siblings forever—no matter what the circumstances were. Back then, you all had been playfully joking around, but that had been just a façade to hide your underlining panic and worry. Either way, you all had vowed with the deepest sincerity in your hearts that your bonds would never be severed.

Even now, it still counted.

It hit you hard. Tears spilled down your cheeks.

They all cried with you the moment you dropped of your tough act. Taemin hugged your waist tightly, not wanting to ever let go. Jonghyun bawled in your shoulder in abandonment, choking out jumbled up words that were hard to catch. Key wiped away your falling tears like the caring person he was. Minho smiled bleakly to encourage you and patted your back. Onew squarely met your watery gaze with a strong and brave type of light in his crescent eyes. It was the gaze of SHINee’s future king.

It wasn’t fair. You didn’t deserve to be separated from them, nor did they deserve to be forced to let you, their baby sister, leave them.

“I’ll always be your baby sister,” you cried brokenheartedly. “I’ll see you again—I promise with my life.”

“Promise?” Taemin asked in a tiny voice. Another wave of tears threatened to spill from his eyes because his little sister, who was like his twin, was leaving him, just like his mother. But his mother had to leave and couldn’t come back. You were forcibly tearing yourself from his life.

You nodded sagely and kissed his wet cheeks. Your voice, though lower and matured, still retained its soft, soothing inflection. That would never change. “Stay...stay here and be safe. I-I’m proud to have you all as my brothers.” You sniffled, voice cracking. “Grow up to be great men, alright? Goodbye, brothers. Farewell, and...I love you.”

As they reluctantly retracted themselves from you, they responded to your woeful goodbyes with their own. Finally, you stepped back from them, creating a distance that felt too foreign and too unreal between you and your brothers. The five princes interlocked hands and watched grievously as you closed your eyes and held up a hand sign. Your blue-white magic fluttered into existence and swirled around your form until you were completely encased. It was too soon when your presence flickered and faded away. You had disappeared. You had left.

From them. For good.

...

You had magically teleported to the portal spot in a secluded niche within the throne room. You needed to see something—to verify it with your own eyes. Thus, you rushed over to the balcony on the other side of the room.

Destruction.

Thick, coarse plumes of black smoke rose from multiple areas of devastation. On the ground, between the battered cakes that were crumbled buildings, two armies were fighting for their lives, vicious and unrelenting. Farther in the distance, enemy spaceships flew hazardously in the sky, shooting and bombing each other. The sky itself was a polluted, hazy gray.

This horrid sight had you gnashing your teeth in churning anger. How dare they—!

No, you quickly intercepted yourself, taking a deep breath to subside your rarely invoked temper. Seeing the Red Force converge closer to the castle front reminded you of how crucial and urgent your main duty was. I have to get to the princes. They matter more.

You immediately teleported yourself to the secret storeroom located within the castle’s walls. Giving yourself only five minutes, you changed into fitting travel wear and emptied some unnecessary items from your two bags. You stored those items in a treasure chest and hid it in a crate. Now your bags were lighter, the heaviest of items being the phoenix and dragon eggs. You slung the traveling bags over your unstaggering shoulders again. Then, you hurried out the storeroom, mindfully closing the creaky door behind you, and hastily navigated down the narrow, stuffy passageways.

...

Everyone’s heads snapped up when they heard the loud, pounding thump on the bunker’s thick, protective door.

Thud, thud, thud.

The older princes tensed, and the younger ones gasped in horror. The queens exchanged wide, terrified glances. The two women stood before their sons, ready to protect them with their lives while the boys pressed themselves against the back wall, but they were poised to attack just in case the situation demanded it.

But then they jolted with surprise, almost stricken with heart attacks when a deathly familiar voice called out to them. It was muffled by the door, but it was unmistakable.

“Guys?! It’s me, Princess Aris! Your majesties, I’ve returned from Crescent Moon!”

Relief and astonishment flooded through their systems. It really was you.

Without hesitation, the queens unlocked the door and pushed it open. The princes watched with anticipation as it budged aside to allow view of you. It was like slow-motion—the shadow shedding away like a curtain until they could see a hand, an arm, a neck, and finally a face. They were dumbstruck at the sight of an older version of you. But your eyes were distinct and familiar, telling them that this person was the same girl that they fell in love with.

“Aris?!”

Your smile was more relieved and loving than they’ve ever seen it.

“I promised I’d see you soon, didn’t I?”

I always keep my promises, especially if they’re for you.

...