The Meadows — 11 Years Ago
The meadow stretched wide beneath the open sky. Flowers stood half-open among the grass, their colors softened to creams and muted blues.
Some blooms grew low in tight clusters, while others rose on firmer stems, their broader petals opening toward the light.
A gentle wind moved through the field. Grass bent in slow waves, and flower heads swayed with each passing breeze.
A young female butterfly flew low over the meadow, her mismatched wings spread wide, one black, the other white. Long black hair with silver and white streaks streamed behind her, lifting with the wind before settling against her back as she adjusted her speed and angle.
Another female butterfly entered the meadow.
Yellow-and-black wings carried her forward as she slowed, her flight becoming steadier with each beat.
She looked up.
"Twilight," she called, cupping her hands around her mouth.
Twilight looked down.
Her mother lifted one hand and waved. A smile spread across her face.
"Mother… you're back."
Twilight folded her wings and dropped toward the meadow. She landed hard enough to bend the grass beneath her feet.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she ran.
She pushed off and leapt forward, wrapping her arms around her mother's shoulders.
Her mother caught her and steadied them both.
"Looks like someone's excited."
"You shouldn't have been out here this long…" Her mother paused. "And alone, no less."
"What did I tell you?"
Her mother flicked Twilight on the forehead.
"We're not permitted to go beyond the meadows."
Twilight rubbed her forehead and nodded once. Her mouth pulled into a small pout.
"I know… I know."
She lowered her gaze.
"We were exiled. But I was lonely." She hesitated. "I thought… you'd come back sooner."
"I wanted to."
Her mother looked away.
"There were… things I couldn't leave unfinished."
She released Twilight and stepped back. A small smile touched her face.
"But now that I'm here…" She paused. "How about I make us some dinner?"
Twilight smiled.
"Yes."
Aurora smiled and took Twilight's hand.
"Come on, then."
They left the meadow together and made their way toward the burrow. The entrance was narrow, partially concealed beneath a cluster of roots and wildflowers. As they stepped inside, the warmth of the meadow faded behind them.
Dust had settled across the walls and floor.
Twilight coughed as she followed her mother deeper inside.
"Ugh… it's dusty."
Her mother glanced back at her with an amused smile.
"I suppose it's been a while since I've had the chance to clean."
She brushed a hand along the wall, sending another small cloud of dust into the air.
Twilight immediately covered her nose.
"Mother!"
Aurora laughed softly.
"Alright, alright."
They reached a small chamber. Her mother knelt beside a bundle of gathered flowers and began harvesting the nectar from them, letting the golden liquid collect in a small resin bowl.
She held it out to Twilight.
"Here."
Twilight accepted the bowl with both hands.
"Thank you."
She sat beside her on the ground.
"Go on. You must be hungry."
She took a sip.
Her eyes brightened.
"Mmm, it's sweet."
Twilight's hair was ruffled.
"Say...do you know why I named you Twilight?"
Twilight tilted her head.
"No. I'm not sure, Mother."
Aurora smiled.
"You see, twilight is the time when night and day meet. It comes just after sunset and just before sunrise."
Twilight looked toward the horizon.
"It's beautiful."
"It is."
Aurora's smile softened.
"That's how I decided on your name. I wanted you to have something beautiful."
She gently brushed a strand of hair away from Twilight's face.
"Just like my mother chose the name Aurora for me."
Twilight smiled.
"So you were named after the sunrise?"
Aurora laughed softly.
"Something like that."
The Meadows — 7 Years Ago
A male butterfly stood before Seraphina and bowed.
"Go ahead, Alistair," a female butterfly said.
Alistair straightened and took Seraphina's hand.
"I, Alistair, pledge to stand by your side and protect you at all times. I will grow stronger with each passing day so that I may uphold this vow."
He lowered his head.
Seraphina looked toward her mother.
"Monarch Solenne… do I really have to have a guardian?"
"That's Mother to you," Solenne said.
Seraphina sighed.
"And yes. A guardian is very important for a Monarch. They are the final line of protection."
"But I don't need protection. I'm way stronger than him."
She looked away, folding her arms.
Solenne turned toward Nytheris and gave him a small nod.
Nytheris stepped forward and bowed.
"I, Nytheris, pledge to stand by your side and protect you at all times. I will grow stronger with each passing day so that I may uphold this vow."
He raised his head.
"I see."
Ignatia smiled.
She took Nytheris's hand.
"But I'll be the one doing the protecting, got that?"
Nytheris blinked.
"Um…"
Ignatia grinned.
"You heard me."
Nytheris looked at her, then quietly nodded.
"Yes."
Back in the Hollow Foundry of Shadows, Seraphina stood ready, her thorned whip gripped tightly in one hand. Ari remained beside her, facing Nytheris at close range.
In the dim light of the cave, a muted glint showed in Nytheris's dark eyes.
"So all those years…" Seraphina said. "Playing the loyal guardian to Ignatia."
"That was all just a mask for your own ambitions?"
A faint smile touched her lips.
"I have to admit… it's almost impressive."
"So that means you know the Moonveil Blossom's location," Ari said.
"Tell me… do the moths have it, or do you know where it is?"
"And why should I answer you… tunnel dweller?"
Nytheris's expression hardened.
"Thanks to your interference, I've been driven into a corner."
He straightened.
"But in the end, I'll still get what I want. The Kaleidoscope will fall."
A pause.
"And if it doesn't…Then I'll handle it myself."
"Before I paint this cave with your blood…" Seraphina said, "indulge me."
"What reason could you possibly have for infiltrating our ranks and playing the role of guardian for over a decade?"
"Why move against the Kaleidoscope?"
"And why betray the trust my sister placed in you?"
A brief pause followed, the drip of water filling the space.
"What foolish reason was worth all of that?"
"Foolish?"
The cave seemed to grow darker.
"How dare you."
His voice dropped.
"Because of all of you, I lost everything I ever loved."
His jaw clenched.
"Your fear. Your disgust."
He looked down.
"She suffered because of it."
His eyes hardened.
"I want to see the entire Kaleidoscope erased. Broken down to nothing."
"And I'll start with you."
From Nytheris's hind wings, rows of quills began to emerge. The membranes parted as the structures slid free.
Ari's eyes widened.
No way… those are the same quills.
I was right… Nytheris is a moth.
"Well now… this is a surprise."
Seraphina tilted her head slightly.
"So you're the hybrid who vanished eleven years ago. Then your mother was High Monarch Aurora."
A small smile appeared.
"My, my… this should be an interesting battle."
What…? Is she saying Nytheris is the child of a Monarch?
A hybrid between a moth and a butterfly…?
Ari thought.
Nytheris reached to his side and drew his whip.
"I see… so you've heard of me."
His grip tightened around the handle.
"All the more reason this place becomes your grave."
Nytheris snapped his arm upward.
The whip lashed into the jagged ceiling.
Stone cracked on impact. Fractures spread across the rock before sections of the ceiling tore free and collapsed.
Debris rained through the chamber. Shards struck the ground as dust surged outward.
Ari raised an arm and turned his face away, closing his eyes as fragments clattered around him.
The noise gradually subsided.
Ari lowered his arm.
A wide rupture split the ceiling above them, sunlight spilling through the opening.
The light struck Nytheris as he rose into the air.
"Bear witness."
The right side of Nytheris's exoskeleton, wings and hair began to change, black shifting to white as longer hair emerged along his body. The strands separated into white and black.
"To the strength of the one you cast aside to die."
The change continued.
"What you feared I could become…"
His voice softened, taking on a more feminine tone.
"…is exactly what I became."
"The Twilight…"
Outside the cave, near the entrance, the soldiers remained in position, spaced evenly along the rock. Some kept watch over the surrounding meadow, their heads tilted upward as they scanned the sky.
Quinn looked along the line of privates stationed near the entrance. Several had trembling hands.
It's been more than an hour, and we still haven't heard from Ari.
Is the cave really that vast?
She closed her eyes and folded her arms.
Everyone here is on edge. For some of them, this is their first real battle.
I suppose that's to be expected.
"Corporal Quinn… should we enter the cave?" a private asked.
His legs trembled beneath him.
"No. Hold your ground. Just a little longer."
Quinn stepped closer and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry. None of you are going to die out here today."
She gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"So keep your head up, alright?"
"Yes, Corporal."
A faint flush crept across his face.
"Thank you…"
He muttered the words before turning away.
Quinn turned her attention back toward the cave entrance.
I hope everything is alright in there.
Knowing Lance Corporal Ari… it should be fine.
Without warning, the air whistled sharply.
Quills tore through the formation.
One drove into an ant's leg. Another slammed into a soldier's arm with a heavy crunch.
Both soldiers collapsed at once.
One hit the ground clutching his leg. The other twisted onto his side as blood spilled across the stone.
Their screams broke through the quiet.
The rest of the formation recoiled in shock.
"What was that?"
"What's going on?"
Quinn spun around. Her eyes locked onto the quills embedded in the wounded soldiers.
She dropped to one knee beside them, one hand already reaching out.
A large shadow spread across the ground.
One of the soldiers looked up, his breath catching.
No way…
"Moths—!"
A Lance Corporal shouted as he stepped forward, his mandibles sliding from their sheaths with a sharp click.
Another barrage of projectiles tore down toward the formation.
Quinn rushed forward and planted herself at the front. She raised her mandibles, crossing the blades in front of her.
Quills struck them in rapid succession.
Metal rang with each impact as sparks burst from the blades. Several deflected shots spun away and buried themselves in the ground around her feet.
One slipped through.
It drove into her shoulder with a hard crunch.
Quinn let out a sharp groan as the impact forced her back a step. Her teeth clenched as she fought to stay upright.
Her free hand closed around the embedded quill.
She pulled it free in a slow, controlled motion.
Blood immediately ran down her arm.
"Fall back into the meadows!"
The soldiers hesitated.
"If we stay here, we'll all die!"
Quinn looked toward the wounded.
"Secure the wounded. No one gets left behind!"
The formation broke at once.
Soldiers moved toward the meadow as more projectiles cut through the air.
Quinn advanced with the other two corporals at the rear, mandibles raised as they moved. Quills slammed into their blades and struck the ground around them.
"We'll buy you some time."
The two Butterfly guardians stepped forward in unison and unsheathed their whips. Barbed thorns ran along the lengths.
"We're counting on you," Quinn said.
With that, she pivoted and ran into the meadows.
The butterflies took to the sky, their wings beating hard as they rose to meet the moths head-on.