| Chapter Two Hannahoko paced back in forth in the lounging room looking at her leather watch every several moments. A laugh tinkled through the room. "You worry way too much, Hannahoko. Of course everything will be okay, and Matt will help you. He's a good guy, he won't bail on you," spoke the one who laughed. "I don't like asking people for favors," The Queen muttered. "Ah, pride. It can be a good thing at times, Hannahoko, but it harms far more, especially for a Queen." The Queen sighed heavily, "I know Erin." Someone was nearing the lounge. Erin jumped of from her chair with a mischievous grin. With her shoes on she stood eight foot six from the ground. Her eyes were sparkling blue and her hair was fair colored with blue stars imprinted on it. She was very beautiful. "Watch this," she grinned wider and jumped behind a chest of drawers beside the doorframe. The door swung open and on the other side stood Anday and the Kidd. "Hello, Matt. Thanks, Anday, you may go." Hannahoko smiled. Matt smiled back and began to saunter into the room. The young queen peered back at her giant friend trying to see what she was planning. With one leap Erin was standing behind Matt and grappled him into a chokehold. "What's your business here? Do you threaten the Queen's well being?" Hannahoko restrained herself from bursting into laughter. "What?" Matt struggled to pull away as several knifes fell to the floor, "Hannahoko?" Erin let go and the Kidd whirled around to meet his attacker. "Erin!" Matt gasped. The giant girl gave Matt a hug lifting him a little from the ground. "How've you been you old drifter?" Erin laughed putting Matt back down. "Good!" he replied, "How've YOU been? Looks like you grew about 5 inches since last I saw you." "Naw, its just the shoes." Hannahoko stood uncomfortably in the corner of the room. She was biting her lip and waiting for Matt to come over, she loathed confrontations. "Well if it isn't the Queen herself," Matt grinned, "How are things?" "Oh, good," she lied. Erin glared at her from across the room. "I mean...terrible." Matt scratched his head, "Yeah, I kinda noticed Balthasaar isn't in the prime of its life...What happened?" Hannahoko began to spill out all the details. How Russia had attacked their main city and how strange raids were going on throughout the small cities and towns. How the few crops they could grow were being stolen in great numbers and how she wasn't sure she could feed everybody this year. Finally she added that she needed help. "Are you going to help us?" Erin bluntly asked. "I want my ship repaired, and a new cape for Super lint ball, an iridescent one, blue-no red. And I want a soft bed for Chibi, and I want a hardback set of the Wheel of Time series. And a shiny penny, and, what's that Ancient? Oh yes, Ancient needs a good fluff repair.” "You'll help us?" Hannahoko's brown eyes grew large. "You thought I wouldn't?" The Queen forgot her royal reservations and forthrightness and with one swift movement she embraced Matt. In shocked surprise he hugged her back. She pulled away quickly and began laying out her ideas. *.*.*.*.*.*.*. In the very heart of the Neptunese forests a great force slumbered. It hadn't stirred from its rest in years. Now it's dreams were being disturbed. It opened its eyes, destruction was near. |